United States (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A devastating tornado that struck eastern North Dakota in June 2025 has been officially upgraded to an EF5, marking the first tornado of such intensity in the US since 2013. The tornado caused three fatalities and extensive damage, with wind speeds exceeding 210 mph.
EF5 Tornado Confirmed After Detailed Analysis
On Monday, October 6, 2025, meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Forks, North Dakota, confirmed that the tornado moving through Enderlin and Alice on June 20 qualified as an EF5 tornado the highest rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale. As reported by CNN’s Allison Chinchar and CBS News correspondent Jennifer McDermott, this storms ends a 12-year EF5 drought in the United States, with only 60 such tornadoes recorded nationwide since 1950.
Originally classified as an EF3 with estimated winds of 160 mph, further extensive forensic damage analysis uncovered clear evidence of winds surpassing 210 mph. This reclassification came after collaborative work between the NWS, the Northern Tornadoes Project, and independent scientists who validated severe damage indicators including a freight train tipped off its tracks, tree debarking, and a farmstead swept clean off its foundation.
Path, Duration, and Impact of the Tornado
The tornado touched down near Enderlin, located approximately 40 miles southwest of Fargo, and travelled north for around 12 miles, dissipating near Alice, North Dakota. The twister lasted about 19 minutes, from approximately 11:02 p.m. to 11:21 p.m.
According to Reuters and Fox 9 News reporter Leon Purvis, the tornado tragically killed two men and a woman. It overturned several fully loaded grain cars and tossed an empty tanker car nearly 475 feet, highlighting the extraordinary wind force. Trees were uprooted with root balls and heavily sandpapered, while multiple buildings, including farms, were demolished or swept completely away.
Understanding EF5 Tornadoes and Their Rarity
EF5 tornadoes are characterised by wind speeds greater than 200 mph and cause incredible devastation. Since systematic record-keeping began in 1950, only 60 such tornadoes have been verified in the United States. According to meteorologist Melinda Beerends, who leads the NWS Grand Forks office, the combination of necessary damage indicators and an EF5-scale wind event makes such tornadoes extremely rare. “It’s hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something where they can be rated EF5,” she explained to the Associated Press.
The previous EF5 tornado in the US struck Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013, killing 24 people and damaging thousands of structures. The Enderlin tornado breaks the longest span on record without experiencing an EF5-class tornado, a period that came to be known among weather experts as the “EF-5 Drought.”
Meteorological Context and Wider Storm Activity
The EF5 tornado was part of a severe storm system including numerous other tornadoes and a damaging derecho that swept across North Dakota and northern Minnesota on the night of June 20. The storm event generated wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, compounding the destruction.
Videos and imagery captured by residents and local news crews show the tornado swirling ominously as it cut through the rural landscape. Emergency responders faced significant challenges due to the extent of devastation and the overnight timing.
Scientific Methods for Re
Comments
20 responses to “First EF5 Tornado in Over a Decade Confirmed in the US”
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So, the US finally managed to squeeze out an EF5 tornado after a decade-long dry spell? I guess that’s one way to break the monotony of tornadoes, eh? 🌪️💨
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Looks like Mother Nature decided to throw a vintage EF5 party after a decade-long dry spell—who knew tornadoes had such a flair for the dramatic? 🍹💨
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Just what we needed, another EF5 tornado to remind us how wonderfully unpredictable Mother Nature can be! 🌀 I’m sure the residents of North Dakota are just thrilled to add “tornado-chic” to their post-disaster decor. 🍃💨
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Blimey, after 12 years of waiting, I guess the US weather decided it was time for a proper tornado reunion party! 🎉 Hope everyone brought their flying debris and a good sense of humor! 🌪️
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Just what we needed, an EF5 tornado to spice up the summer! 🌪️ Who knew Mother Nature had it in her to throw a tornado party after a decade-long drought? 🤷♂️
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Can’t say I’m surprised—turns out Mother Nature has a flair for the dramatic. Must be attempting to win ‘Tornado of the Year’ after a decade of being on the bench! 🌪️😂
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Just what the States needed, another EF5 tornado to spice things up! Maybe Mother Nature thought she was auditioning for the next big reality show—“Twister: Extreme Edition.” 🌪️😏
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Well, it seems Mother Nature got a bit bored and decided to throw a tornado party – an EF5, no less! 🎉 Who knew extreme weather could be so exclusive?
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So, the US goes over a decade without an EF5 and then throws a party with a tornado that registers on the Richter scale of catastrophe—talk about a dramatic comeback! 🌪️💥 Just when you thought Mother Nature was taking it easy, she pulls out the big guns!
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Talk about making an entrance! After a decade-long snooze, the EF5 tornado decided to throw a proper party in North Dakota – and sadly, it brought a few guests who didn’t make it out. 🌪️😬
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Another EF5 tornado, eh? Just what the US needed after a decade-long drought—maybe we should start handing out medals for these things! 💨🇺🇸
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Another EF5 tornado, eh? Guess Mother Nature decided to throw a ‘welcome back’ party after her 12-year hiatus! 🎉🌪️
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Isn’t it charming how the US managed to keep the EF5s on holiday for over a decade, only to end the drought with a bang? 🌀 Guess Mother Nature thought it was time for a little chaos to spice things up, eh? 😏
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Looks like Mother Nature decided to throw a “Welcome Back” party for EF5s—who knew she had such a flair for drama? 🌀 I suppose when it comes to tornadoes, the US likes to keep things exciting, eh?
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Looks like Mother Nature decided to throw a little tornado party and forgot to send out the invites for a decade. 🌀 Who knew wind could be that enthusiastic?
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Quite the spectacle, isn’t it? Just when you thought the weather was getting boring in the States, along comes a tornado that makes you question if Mother Nature is auditioning for a reality TV show. 🌪️🤷♂️
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Seems like Mother Nature decided to throw a tantrum and break the drought with a bang—210 mph winds and a body count, how charming! 🤷♂️ Just what we needed, another reason to keep our roofs secured and our tornado shelters stocked.
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Looks like Mother Nature decided to throw a party and brought the EF5 tornado as the uninvited guest. Just what we needed, another reason to invest in storm shelters! 🌪️💼
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Aye, just what we needed—a tornado that puts the ‘fun’ in functional disasters! 🍃💨 Who knew Mother Nature had such a flair for the dramatic?
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Just when you thought the US weather couldn’t get any more dramatic, here comes an EF5 tornado to remind us all that Mother Nature has a flair for the theatrical. 🍃💨 Who knew 210 mph winds could be the latest trend since last Tuesday?
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