Deadly U.S. Tornado Upgraded To Highest Level
The deadly tornado that ambushed Enderlin, North Dakota on June 20, 2025 has been upgraded to an EF-5, the strongest level on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale used to measure tornado intensity in the United States.
The National Weather Service Grand Forks announced the news Monday morning. The tornado, which killed three people, is the first EF-5 event in the U.S. in 12 years, going back to the 2013 twister in Moore, Oklahoma.
Initial damage surveys classified the tornado as an EF-3, but additional studies determined it qualified as an EF-5.
"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," said the NWS. "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 475.7 ft (145 m).
"The maximum wind speed also correlates to the maximum strength on WSR-88D Storm-Relative Velocity data from KMVX."
Extensive damage caused
The Enderlin tornado was part of a derecho, or thunderstorm cluster, that blasted North Dakota, Minnesota and Ontario, Canada on June 20-21.
In addition to the train derailment and tipping of tankers and grain cars, significant damage to trees was uncovered near the Maple River east of Enderlin. The mile-wide twister also damaged properties across 12 miles, per the NWS.
A farmstead in the path of the most damaging winds suffered "complete destruction with the foundation considered to be swept clean, and debris swept downwind and scattered."
Three people tragically lost their lives
On June 21, the Cass County Sheriff's Office confirmed the deaths of three Enderlin residents as a result of the tornado.
The three people who lost their lives were:
- Michael Dalton Dehn, 73
- Katherine Ann Pfaff-Dehn, 73
- Marcario Machuca Lucio, 89
"The Cass County Sheriff’s Office extends its heartfelt sympathies to the victim's families, the community of Enderlin, and all other communities affected by this weekend's tragic storm," the department said in a statement.