Enderlin,North Dakota – A rare EF5 tornado struck eastern north Dakota on June 27,2024,killing three people and marking the first tornado of that intensity to hit the United States in 12 years. The twister caused widespread damage, uprooting trees, overturning rail cars, and demolishing farmsteads, but the city of Enderlin itself largely escaped destruction beyond a power outage.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the EF5 rating after an extended assessment of the damage. “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,” said Melinda Beerends, meteorologist in charge at the NWS in Grand Forks. “It’s hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something,” she added.
Meteorologists noted the unusual damage to rail cars, with one being thrown a meaningful distance from the others, requiring collaboration with engineers and wind damage experts for forensic analysis. The tornado’s formation was attributed to a combination of warm, moist air and high wind shear – a variation in wind speed and direction.
Two men and a woman were killed at locations east of Enderlin, which is approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Fargo. Mayor Deon maasjo stated the city itself “pretty much went unscathed,” other than losing power.
The last EF5 tornado occurred on May 20, 2013, near Oklahoma City, resulting in 24 fatalities and over 200 injuries in Moore, Oklahoma.
Recent trends indicate a potential shift in tornado activity, with increased frequency east of the Mississippi River. “If you look 40 to 50 years ago, the tornadoes that were happening in places like Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are kind of happening there with less frequency, and we’re seeing more tornadoes in places like Birmingham, little Rock and Memphis,” explained Victor Gensini, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Northern Illinois University. He noted the increased risk to population centers as a result.
