EF4 Tornado — Cass, North Dakota

2025-06-20 · near Elizabeth, Cass, North Dakota

Event narrative

This large and violent tornado initially began in Ransom county 3 miles SSW Enderlin. It crossed into Cass county approximately 3 miles east of Enderlin. EF-4 damage occurred just north of Highway 46 at two farmsteads where devastating damage occurred to both houses and seven outbuildings were destroyed. On the eastern farmstead, one farmhouse was leveled with the debris swept from its foundation and scattered downwind, leading to two fatalities. A lack of structural anchoring was noted at this location. Trees around the farmstead were also debarked, and a few root balls were displaced. The farmstead to the west was leveled for all portions above ground as well. The home had been built into the side of the surrounding hill with some of the debris still piled up around the location. It was built with manufactured steel trusses above the garage, suggesting slightly higher grade construction than a typical residential house. Additionally, a large propane tank was moved across the north end of the property at this location. The tornado continued north, causing additional tree damage and eventually leveling another farm house, leading to one fatality at a farmstead near 51st St east of 139th Ave SE. As the tornado moved to the northwest, it bent over tall steel electrical transmission towers before making a curl to the south as it passed over the southern end of the Utke waterfowl production area. It then weakened and dissipated a mile to the southwest of the northernmost point in the tornado's track. The tornado statistics for the Cass County portion of the track include: a length of 6.7 miles, a maximum width of 1000 yards, a maximum wind of 180 mph (EF-4), and a total of 3 fatalities. The tornado statistics for the Ransom County portion of the track include: a length of 5.4 miles, a maximum width of 1850 yards, a maximum wind of greater than 210 mph (EF-5), and 0 fatalities. Total track length between Ransom and Cass counties was 12.1 miles. Monetary damage estimates were not available.

Wider weather episode

During the evening of Friday, June 20th into the early morning hours of June 21st, much of the region was affected by severe weather. Supercell thunderstorms developed across southeast North Dakota ahead of an approaching convective complex, producing multiple strong, destructive, and fatal tornadoes. This was followed by a powerful line of severe thunderstorms categorized as a derecho, which tracked across much of the region resulting in widespread straight line wind damage. After the derecho passed through the region, there was a period of prolonged destructive winds that affected portions of central and east central North Dakota, as well as adjacent portions of Minnesota. This was a unique event due to the combination of the violent tornadoes ahead of the derecho, and the long duration of significant winds that followed the derecho. Based on estimates provided by North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, the state lost anywhere from 50 to 80 million bushels of grain storage capacity from these storms.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1278903. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.