Rare EF5 Tornadoes Strike North Dakota, Echoing Historic 1957 Fargo Disaster
North Dakota has experienced the force of two extraordinarily powerful tornadoes, both rated EF5 – the highest classification on the Enhanced Fujita scale. One of these devastating storms directly impacted the Fargo area, stirring memories of a historic and deadly tornado that struck the city in 1957.
The recent confirmation of the EF5 rating for the tornado near Enderlin, North Dakota, marks a rare event. According to experts, It’s the first EF5 tornado to hit the United States in over a decade. The National Weather Service reassessed the damage from a tornado that left three people dead in June and arrived at the highest possible rating on the tornado scale.
The 1957 Fargo tornado, which occurred on , remains a defining moment in the region’s history. The storm, part of a larger outbreak affecting the Upper Midwest, struck the north side of Fargo, North Dakota, and the area north of Moorhead, Minnesota. It was a particularly violent and long-lived tornado, later determined to be part of a “tornado family” – five devastating tornadoes produced by a single supercell over a period of 3.5 hours.
The 1957 tornado tracked for 52.4 miles (84.3 km), crossing from North Dakota into Minnesota. At its widest, the damage path stretched 500 yards (460 meters). The storm’s intensity was estimated to have peak winds exceeding 275 mph (443 km/h).
The consequences were tragic. A total of 12 people lost their lives, making the 1957 Fargo tornado the deadliest in North Dakota’s recorded history. An additional 103 individuals were injured. Damage at the time was estimated at $25.3 million (1957 USD), which translates to approximately $288.4 million in 2026 dollars.
The National Weather Service maintains a detailed record of the 1957 Fargo tornado, recognizing it as a historic event in meteorological history. The event serves as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of these powerful storms.
While details surrounding the recent Enderlin EF5 tornado are still emerging, the confirmation of its strength underscores the continued risk of extreme weather events in the region. The rarity of EF5 tornadoes – with the last confirmed instance occurring over a decade ago – highlights the significance of this recent event and the need for continued vigilance and preparedness.
The 1957 Fargo tornado formed at 6:40 p.m. CDT and dissipated at 7:01 p.m. CDT, lasting 21 minutes. The recent tornado near Enderlin, while also an EF5, occurred in June of 2025, according to reports.
