Three confirmed dead after large tornado strikes Enderlin, North Dakota
A large tornado struck the town of Enderlin, North Dakota, at approximately 23:40 local time (LT) on June 20, 2025, killing three people and causing significant structural damage. The fatalities were confirmed by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office during a press conference held at 07:30 LT on June 21.
A deadly tornado impacted rural Cass County, North Dakota, at 23:40 LT on June 20. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office confirmed three fatalities in the area near Enderlin, two men and one woman, discovered at two separate locations following the storm.
Emergency services were dispatched after reports of damage, with storm chasers initially locating two deceased individuals. A third victim was later found by the Enderlin Fire Department at another site.
Search and welfare checks were conducted throughout the night by multiple agencies, including the Enderlin and Alice Fire Departments, Cass County deputies, Casselton and Lisbon ambulance services, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Red River Valley UAS Unit.
No additional injuries have been reported. Extensive structural damage was confirmed, including destroyed homes and downed infrastructure, and a train that was overturned.
This event marks the first tornado in North Dakota to cause at least two fatalities since the F4 tornado that struck Elgin on July 4, 1978, the first in a 47-year span. The tornado is being assessed by the NWS.
The Enderlin tornado was part of a broader outbreak of severe weather affecting southeastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. The NWS received reports of tornadoes in Cass, Barnes, Ransom, and Stutsman counties.
Confirmed tornado sightings included locations near Eckelson, Urbana, Fort Ransom, and Davenport. Around 22:50 LT, a potentially destructive tornado was reported in Foster County, with another near Davenport at 23:50 LT, moving toward Oxbow.
Wind gusts associated with the storm system reached up to 178 km/h (111 mph) near Luverne, North Dakota, and 170 km/h (106 mph) in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Additional weather hazards included hail up to 76 mm (3 inches) in diameter in Jamestown and portions of northwestern Minnesota. The NWS issued Tornado Watch 448, active until 03:00 LT on June 21, covering 14 counties in the region.
Power outages peaked at over 30 500 customers in southeastern North Dakota and 54 600 in Minnesota — approximately 200 000 people. As of 15:26 UTC on June 21, outages had been reduced to 22 876 customers in North Dakota and 27 040 in Minnesota.
NWS meteorologist Timothy Lynch described the outbreak as among the most widespread and impactful in his decade-long tenure with the service. A full damage survey and EF ratings for all tornadoes involved are pending.
The SPC reported 13 tornadoes in North Dakota on June 20, in Stutsman, Cass, Barnes, and Ransom counties.
Feature image credit: Live Storms Media
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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