North Dakota Tornado Upgraded to EF5, First in U.S. in 12 Years

A deadly tornado in southeastern North Dakota has been classified as an EF5, a designation it received after an extensive analysis by meteorologists. This tornado, which struck on June 20, 2023, is notable as the first EF5 tornado recorded in the United States in 12 years.

Details of the Tornado

The tornado, which devastated Enderlin, resulted in three fatalities and significant destruction. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Forks assessed that the tornado’s winds peaked at 210 mph (338 kph), making it the most powerful tornado in over a decade. The tornado’s path was an impressive 12 miles (19 kilometers) long and reached widths of up to 1.05 miles (1.7 kilometers).

Background on the Enhanced Fujita Scale

Since the NWS’s introduction of the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale in 2007, only ten tornadoes have been rated as EF5. The previous EF5 tornado occurred on May 20, 2013, in the Moore area of Oklahoma, resulting in 24 deaths and over 200 injuries.

Damage and Aftermath

• The tornado destroyed numerous farmsteads.
• It overturned fully loaded rail cars and toppled transmission towers.
• Trees were uprooted across the affected areas.

The investigation into this tornado’s strength required collaboration between meteorologists, engineers, and wind damage experts due to the unique damage observed, including rail cars being hurled significant distances from their original locations.

Causes and Contributing Factors

The tornado’s formation was attributed to a combination of warm, moist air conducive to thunderstorms and significant wind shear. Wind shear refers to variations in wind speed and direction, creating a favorable environment for tornado development.

Notable Observations

Near Enderlin, which is situated approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Fargo, two men and a woman tragically lost their lives. During the storm, thousands of homes experienced power outages. One notable instance of destruction involved a farmstead where only the basement remained, with debris scattered in a downwind pattern.

The NWS noted that the duration of time taken to categorize the tornado as EF5 was typical due to the necessity for thorough assessments of damage indicators, which usually takes days or even weeks.

This catastrophic event highlights both the destructive potential of tornadoes and the ongoing importance of meteorological research in understanding their behavior and impact.