United States sees first EF-5 tornado classification in over a decade

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - A June tornado in North Dakota has been upgraded to an EF-5, ending a 12-year streak without the most violent twisters.

This change comes after the National Weather Service conducted additional damage surveys with wind damage experts. It was initially rated EF-3.

The tornado curled around just east of Enderlin, North Dakota on June 20, 2025. It hit multiple homes, completely sweeping one clean off its foundation. This resulted in 3 deaths.

The big clues that this tornado should belong in the strongest category was a train derailment where fully loaded grain cars (over 200,000 pounds) were tipped over and dragged into a field, and an empty tanker car (over 70,000 pounds) was thrown nearly 500 feet. These events proved to experts that tornadic winds were likely over 210 mph, leading to the upgraded classification to EF-5.

The wind damage experts also noted that trees in the area were “debarked” with a “sandpapering” effect on the surface; other trees were completely uprooted, including their root systems and thrown. One such tree was tossed so far, scientists couldn’t identify where it was originally planted.

The last EF-5 tornado was in Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013.

Tornadoes are rated by the damage they produce, so if they miss structures or objects that can withstand high winds, they will be rated low.

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