Enderlin, ND EF5 Tornado

[Newman]

The 12 year streak of no EF5 tornado is finally over after detailed forensic wind damage analysis of the June 20, 2025 Enderlin ND tornado:

 

...Enderlin Tornado #1 Upgraded to EF-5...

 

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks conducted additional surveys and worked extensively with wind damage experts to further investigate the 20 June 2025 Enderlin, ND tornado #1. The estimated maximum wind speed of the Enderlin, ND tornado #1 is greater than 210 mph and occurred during the time of the train derailment south of Enderlin, ND. The analysis involved forensic damage wind speed estimates for tipping several fully-loaded grain hopper cars and lofting of tanker cars, including one empty tanker car that was tossed about 475.5 ft (145 m). The maximum wind speed also correlates to the maximum strength on the WSR-88D Storm-Relative Velocity data from KMVX. 

Additional high-end damage indicators that have been reanalyzed and adjusted to include damage to the trees near the Maple River east of Enderlin and damage to farmstead #2 on Hwy 46. Further analysis of the trees surrounding the Maple River show extensive tree damage throughout the entire river valley with only stubs of large branches or trunks remaining and debarking with a "sandpapering" effect prevalent. Trees with attached root ball displacements were noted, including one where the original location could not be determined. Wind damage experts analyses helped determine the damage at farmstead #2 to be complete destruction with the foundation considered to be  swept clean, and debris swept downwind and scattered. However, issues surrounding the lack of proper anchoring will limit the overall rating in this area. Trees around the farmstead were also debarked, and saw root ball displacements. 

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks would like to thank Tim Marshall, Jim LaDue, Dr. Connell Miller, Dr. Greg Kopp, Dr. David Sills, and the entire Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University's Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory team for their assistance. 

 

Rating: EF-5

Estimated Peak Wind: Greater than 210 mph

Path Length /statute/: 12.10 miles

Path Width /maximum/: 1850 yards / 1.05 miles

Fatalities: 3

Injuries: 0

 

Start Date: 06/20/2025

Start Time: 11:02 PM CDT

Start Location: 3 S Enderlin / Ransom County / ND

Start Lat/Lon: 46.5728 / -97.6031

 

End Date: 06/20/2025

End Time: 11:21 PM CDT

End Location: 5 SSW Alice / Cass County / ND

End Lat/Lon: 46.987 / -97.5803

 

Full review, including DI images:

https://www.weather.gov/media/fgf/Enderlin.pdf

[Newman]

If you haven't seen the ring camera footage of the storm, check it out.

 

[FPizz]

Wow!  That is scary