Enderlin tornado rated as an EF5
Published: 6 October 2025 | Author: CESTOF
On October 6, 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) officially upgraded a devastating tornado that struck near Enderlin, North Dakota, on June 20, 2025, from its preliminary rating to an EF5, the highest classification on the Enhanced Fujita scale. This upgrade marks the first confirmed EF5 tornado in the United States in twelve years.
What Happened — June 20, 2025
On the night of June 20, 2025, during a broader tornado outbreak and derecho event affecting parts of the northern U.S. and southern Canada, supercell produced multiple tornadoes in North Dakota.
One of the tornadoes tracked east-northeast of Enderlin, carving a damage path of approximately 12.10 miles.
The storm inflicted severe destruction: farmhouses and buildings were demolished, large trees were snapped or debarked, electrical transmission towers were bent, and a train was derailed — with some cars thrown significant distances.
Tragically, three people lost their lives in rural areas near Enderlin.
In the immediate aftermath, NWS survey teams assessed the damage and assigned a preliminary rating of EF3 to the event.
Why It Was Upgraded to EF5
Lofting of Massive Objects, A standout piece of evidence was the movement of train cars. An empty tanker car was thrown about 475 feet (≈ 145 m), and several grain hopper cars were derailed. This required immense wind forces, consistent with EF5-level intensity. Severe Structural Damage Beyond Lower Bounds Some structures were completely destroyed, trees were not merely snapped but de-barked, and utility towers were bent or toppled. These are hallmark indicators of extremely violent wind speeds. Radar & Velocity Data Correlation Storm-relative velocity signatures from radar supported the possibility of winds exceeding 210 mph (≈ 338 km/h). The damage patterns matched forensic expectations for EF5 strength. Ending the EF5 Drought The United States had not seen a confirmed EF5 tornado since 2013, a span of 12 years. The Enderlin event’s intensity and forensic evidence made it the one to finally break that streak.
Summary
The Enderlin tornado now joins a small, exclusive list of only 11 officially rated EF5 tornadoes in U.S. history. It ended the long EF5 drought and highlighted advances in post-storm forensic analysis, showing how detailed review can capture the true power of the most violent tornadoes. For the community around Enderlin, the upgrade may influence rebuilding standards, insurance claims, and the town’s place in severe weather history.