Enderlin Tornado Reclassified as EF-5: First in Over 12 Years

On June 20, a powerful derecho swept through North Dakota and western Minnesota, spawning tornadoes and bringing wind gusts exceeding 100 mph. Among these, the tornado that hit Enderlin, North Dakota, proved to be the most devastating. Initially classified as an EF-3, further investigation by the National Weather Service (NWS) has led to its reclassification as an EF-5.

The NWS teams conducted additional surveys and collaborated with wind damage experts to estimate the tornado's wind speed. The analysis revealed that the winds exceeded 210 mph, surpassing the minimum threshold for an EF-5 tornado. The tornado's force was evident in the damage it inflicted, including the derailment of a train south of Enderlin, where fully-loaded grain hopper cars were tipped, and an empty tanker car was tossed approximately 475 feet away.

Damage to trees along the Maple River also played a crucial role in the reclassification. Investigators discovered trees with their root balls ripped from the ground, some of which were displaced entirely.

The Enderlin tornado's path stretched across 12 miles, with a width of one mile, leaving a trail of destruction across the landscape. This event serves as a reminder of the power and potential devastation of extreme weather events. 

An EF-5 tornado is the highest classification on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, indicating wind speeds exceeding 200 mph and causing catastrophic damage.

The last EF-5 tornado in the U.S. occurred in Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013.

The Enderlin tornado was approximately one mile wide and traveled for 12 miles.

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