2025 Enderlin tornado

In the late-night hours of June 20, 2025, a large and extremely violent EF5 tornado moved through areas near Enderlin, North Dakota. Part of a larger outbreak and derecho sequence that occurred across the northern Great Plains between June 19–22, the tornado, internally referred to by the National Weather Service (NWS) as Enderlin Tornado #1,^[1][b] was the first to be rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale since the Moore, Oklahoma tornado on May 20, 2013, ending a 12-year-long period without tornadoes rated EF5. It was the deadliest tornado to occur in North Dakota since the F4 tornado that struck Elgin in The tornado traveled 12.10 miles (19.47 km) in 19 minutes and reached a peak width of 1.05 miles (1.69 km).^[3] The tornado is the tenth tornado to be rated EF5 after the adoption of the system in 2007. It was additionally the first tornado of such intensity to have struck North Dakota since the 1957 Fargo tornado, which occurred on the same day 68 years prior. The tornado is the first of such intensity in the month of June since the 1992 Chandler–Lake Wilson tornado.^[4][5]

2025 Enderlin tornado

Clockwise from top: The tornado captured by storm chasers near its peak intensity southeast of Enderlin; An unofficial contour map showing the tracks of the two tornadoes produced by the Enderlin supercell; NEXRAD radar imagery of the tornado near its peak, displaying a hook echo
Meteorological history
Formed	June 20, 2025, 11:02 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
Dissipated	June 20, 2025, 11:21 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
Duration	19 minutes
EF5 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Path length	12.10 miles (19.47 km)
Highest winds	Official intensity: >210 mph (340 km/h) Unofficial intensity: >266 mph (428 km/h) (estimate from National Weather Service)[a]
Overall effects
Fatalities	3[2]
Injuries	0
Areas affected	Areas near Enderlin, North Dakota
Part of the tornado outbreak and derecho of June 19–22, 2025 and tornado outbreaks of 2025

The tornado first touched down at 11:02 p.m. CDT south of Enderlin. After causing damage to trees and a grain elevator facility, the tornado became extremely violent southeast of Enderlin, derailing and tossing several train cars at EF5 intensity. The tornado continued northeast, damaging or destroying farmhouses and outbuildings before causing extreme damage to a forest along the Maple River. The tornado crossed ND 46 in this area and leveled a couple of homes, killing two people. For the remainder of the path, numerous trees were snapped, multiple metal truss towers were toppled, and more homes were damaged, including one that was mostly leveled, resulting in another fatality. The tornado dissipated at 11:21 p.m. north of Enderlin. In total, three people were killed.

The tornado was given a preliminary rating of EF3, with the highest wind speeds estimated at 160 mph (260 km/h).^[6] However, this rating was upgraded to EF5 following additional surveys and forensic damage analysis for the tipping of several fully-loaded grain hopper cars and the lofting of an empty tanker car, conducted in association with wind damage experts and researchers at the Northern Tornadoes Project.^[7] Multiple other damage indicators, including tree damage along the Maple River and two farmsteads, also received upgrades to EF4 after reanalysis. After the tornado, a statewide disaster was declared by the Governor of North Dakota following the tornado outbreak and derecho that impacted the state. In September, federal disaster relief was approved, but was delayed amid the 2025 United States federal government shutdown. Locals and other organizations volunteered to help with the recovery efforts.

Meteorological synopsis

SPC outlooks issued at 01Z, about three hours before the tornado touched down. A wind-driven moderate risk was issued for the area, although the possibility of a strong tornado was mentioned.^[8]

On June 15, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) noted on its Day 6 outlook that a shortwave, mid-level ridge was forecasted to traverse into the upper Mississippi River valley and remain over the region as mid-level heights increase. Beneath the ridge, a moist and unstable airmass was expected to be in place from the lower to mid-Missouri Valley, northeastward into the western Great Lakes region. Instability and deep-layer shear were sufficient for a localized severe threat, though uncertainties remained on where the greatest potential for convection would be.^[9]

A seasonally strong mid-level trough was forecast to eject over the Northern Plains on June 20, which featured moderate upper-level divergence to promote lift and shear support.^[9] The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Day 2 outlook mentioned that "a small area of uncapped and very unstable air mass, perhaps over northeast SD and southeast ND. Here, a conditional supercell and tornado risk will exist … very large hail and tornadoes appear likely."^[10]

Supercells began developing across eastern North Dakota, around the Jamestown area, in the evening hours of June 20. Although they were initially elevated, the strengthening low-level jet and isentropic/geostrophic ascent contributed to eroding the convective inhibition that was in place, allowing them to become more surface-based.^[11] Additionally, a nearby frontal boundary provided extreme storm-relative helicity which further supported surface-based shear and streamwise vorticity as well as development of rotation or mesocyclogenesis within the supercells.^[11] Continuing to strengthen in response to these factors, a few tornadoes touched down before the Enderlin tornado, including an EF3 tornado near Spiritwood and two EF2 tornadoes near Valley City and Fort Ransom, respectively; both moved in a southeasterly direction towards the Enderlin area.^[12][13] The SPC released a mesoscale discussion concerning this with the potential for EF2/EF3 strength-tornadoes to occur as a result.^[12]

Tornado summary

Formation and peak intensity

Official track and intensity map of the tornado released by the National Weather Service

Key

  EF0 65–85 mph
  EF1 86–110 mph
  EF2 111–135 mph
  EF3 136–165 mph
  EF4 166–200 mph
  EF5 >200 mph

EF5-rated damage to several full grain train cars and empty tank cars tossed and derailed near Enderlin.

The tornado initially touched down at 11:02 p.m. CDT along 58th Street SE, 3.8 mi (6.1 km) south of Enderlin in Ransom County. After snapping tree branches at EF0 intensity at its touchdown point, the tornado intensified and widened as it moved east-northeastward across County Road 55 through open fields. The tornado then impacted the ADM Edible Bean Specialties grain elevator facility at the corner of 136th Avenue SE and County Road 136 at EF2 strength, snapping large trees and destroying an outbuilding.^[14] The tornado then began a dramatic, rapid intensification and widening phase as it turned northeastward. It peaked in intensity as it crossed CPKC's Elbow Lake Subdivision southeast of Enderlin, derailing numerous train cars on a stopped freight train.^[14]

Initially, this damage was unrated since train cars are not standard damage indicators. However, forensic evidence suggested that the tornado was extremely violent at this location, which led the National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to conduct a more extensive review of the damage. In all, 33 cars on the train derailed; 19 of them were fully loaded grain hopper cars weighing up to 286,000 lb (130,000 kg) that were all tipped over, with one of them being pulled off the tracks and into an adjacent field. The other 14 cars were empty tanker cars weighing up to 72,000 lb (33,000 kg). Four of the cars were thrown out into the field, including one that was tossed 600–1,000 ft (180–300 m), landing 475.7 ft (145.0 m) away from the previous tank car it was attached to. Wheel sets from the derailed cars detached at the locations where the cars came off the rails. Collaborating with wind damage experts and the Northern Tornadoes Project, the NWS determined that winds of 230 mph (370 km/h) were needed to tip over a fully loaded grain car and winds of over 266 mph (428 km/h) to throw the tank car 475.7 ft (145.0 m). Based on this, an EF5 damage rating was applied to this location.^[1][15] In addition, extreme radar measurements were observed around the time that EF5-rated damage was being inflicted. It was also determined that the train cars were lofted twice as far as the EF5 threshold distance and four times heavier than the heaviest object model in the reanalysis. A home that was on the edge of the path sustained minor EF0 damage to its roof as well.^[14]

Continuation and dissipation

EF4-rated root ball displacement caused by the tornado.

The tornado then turned north-northeastward, weakening to EF3 strength, but also growing to its peak width of over a mile. The tornado blew over a cell tower that was anchored by four cables into the ground, completely scoured crop fields, and snapped large trees, debarking some of them. It also leveled an unoccupied farmhouse, shifted another house off its foundation, and damaged or destroyed outbuildings.^[14] The tornado then began to narrow some, but became violent again, moving along the Maple River and approaching ND 46 at EF4 intensity. An entire forest of trees along the river was leveled, with only stubs of the trees left behind. Severe debarking of trees was also noted, with some of them being "sandpapered," and some trees were lofted with the root ball attached, including one whose original location could not be determined.^[14] The violent tornado then crossed ND 46 into Cass County, and devastated two homes, with two deaths occurring in this area. The first home, along with a well-built detached garage nearby, was obliterated and swept away with all the debris scattered downwind of both structures. It was acknowledged that the tornado may have been even stronger at this location, but insufficient anchoring prevented a rating higher than mid-range EF4.^[14] The second house, located approximately 300 yd (270 m) to the west of the first along 140th Avenue SE, along with nearby outbuildings, were leveled.^[14][16] The tornado then crossed over the Maple River, leveling another swath of trees. All the damage along the Maple River had previously been rated EF3 before being upgraded to EF4.^[6]

The tornado's parent mesocyclone seen during a lightning flash as it was near Enderlin

The tornado then weakened as it turned due north, paralleling 140th Avenue SE at EF2 strength, snapping trees and damaging crops, along with shattering the windows of a home and inflicting roof damage to a mobile home along 52nd Street SE.^[14] The tornado then turned north-northwestward and reintensified to high-end EF3 strength, leveling another farmhouse and snapping numerous trees; one person was killed in the house.^[6][16] After snapping more trees and scouring additional crop fields at EF2 strength, the tornado turned northwestward and toppled four tall steel electrical transmission towers at low-end EF3 strength; it also snapped wooden power poles in this area as it crossed County Road 38.^[14] The tornado then quickly narrowed and weakened as it sharply looped back to the south along the southern end of the Utke Waterfowl Production Area, crossing County Road 16 twice, and snapping some additional hardwood tree trunks at EF2 strength before dissipating just west of the 50th Street SE and 138th Avenue SE intersection at 11:21 p.m. CDT, approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) southwest of Alice.^[6][17]

Overall, the tornado was on the ground for 19 minutes, had a path length of 12.10 miles (19.47 km), and reached a peak width of 1.05 miles (1.69 km). According to the Enderlin–Sheldon Fire Department, 10 homes sustained some form of damage from the storm.^[18][19] Shortly after the dissipation of the Enderlin tornado, a second large tornado formed just east of the first tornado's path at 11:22 p.m. CDT. Moving southeast, this second tornado caused EF2 damage to trees and outbuildings across a 6.82 mi (10.98 km) path before dissipating at 11:34 p.m. CDT.^[14]

Aftermath

Casualties and recovery efforts

National Weather Service publication announcing the tornado's upgrade from an EF3 to EF5 rating

Governor of North Dakota Kelly Armstrong declared a statewide disaster following the tornado, activating the state's "Emergency Operations Plan".^[18] On June 24, over 150 volunteers joined in a joint cleanup operation.^[20][21] The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement sent disaster teams to Enderlin to aid in recovery efforts,^[22] and volunteers from the Northern Plains UAS Test Site deployed an Unmanned Aerial System to help residents find personal items that had been lost as a result of the tornado.^[23][24] North Bank set up a fund for victims of the tornado,^[25] and the Enderlin Fire Department assisted in initial clean-up efforts.^[26]

The town of Enderlin was not affected by the tornado itself, although it lost power due to the storm.^[27] Debris from the tornado was found as far away as Moorhead, Minnesota, 40 miles (64 km) from where the tornado had occurred.^[28]

The 2025 United States federal government shutdown, which was ongoing at the time of the tornado's upgrade to an EF5 rating, made disaster assistance unavailable until the shutdown ends;^[29][30] President Donald Trump had approved Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief to assist the month prior.^[31]

The tornado killed three people, all in the vicinity of Enderlin.^[32][17] The three deaths occurred at two different locations along the tornado's path.^[33] It was the deadliest tornado to strike the state since 1978, when an F4 tornado killed five people in Elgin.^[34][35][2]

Rating upgrade

In the preliminary National Weather Service survey taken after the event, the Enderlin tornado was assigned a rating of EF3 with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h).^[36][37][38] On October 6, 2025, the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, with assistance from several engineers including Timothy P. Marshall,^[39] upgraded the Enderlin tornado to EF5 with winds of over 210 mph (340 km/h) based on the lofting of five train cars,^[1][40] and the tipping of 28 more.^[41] Researchers at the Northern Tornadoes Project in Canada assisted the National Weather Service's Grand Forks office with calculating the estimated wind speed required to loft the train car based on procedures established in a 2024 paper.^[42] The tornado also caused high-end damage in other areas, although construction limitations restricted said damage points from being rated EF5. The strong winds correlated to the indicated winds on the WSR-88D Storm-Relative Velocity data from KMVX.^[1]

Melinda Beerends, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks, stated that "In the last kind of 12 years, there's been several strong tornadoes that have come close, but there haven't been known damage indicators at that time to support the EF5 rating … it's hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something."^[43] The upgraded rating ended the EF5 drought that had begun following the May 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, tornado.^[44][45][46]

See also

• List of F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes
• Greensburg tornado – another nighttime EF5 tornado in 2007 with a pronounced leftward turn at the end of its lifespan
• 2011 El Reno–Piedmont tornado – another EF5 tornado that also received a wind speed rating of >210 mph (340 km/h)

Notes

1. While the Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) and the official NWS statement announcing the upgrade list the damage indicator as >210 mph, commentary by the National Weather Service in collaboration with the Northern Tornadoes Project at the University of Western Ontario's Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory mentioned that winds of >266 mph (428 km/h) were needed to loft the empty tanker car 475.7 ft (145 m).^[1]
2. The National Weather Service identified a second tornado, rated EF2, in the Enderlin area, which was designated as Enderlin Tornado #2.^[1]