A deadly tornado that struck North Dakota in June has been officially upgraded to an EF5, making it the first tornado to receive the highest possible rating in the United States in 12 years. The reclassification underscores an already violent and active 2025 tornado season marked by record-breaking outbreaks and significant loss of life.

The National Weather Service announced the upgrade on October 6, 2025, following an extensive damage survey of the storm that hit Enderlin, North Dakota, on June 20. Initially rated an EF3, the analysis concluded that the tornado produced wind speeds exceeding 210 mph (338 kph). The catastrophic storm tragically killed three people. It carved a 12-mile path of destruction, was over a mile wide at its peak, and left a scar of obliterated farmsteads, toppled rail cars, and uprooted trees.

This EF5 event is the grim pinnacle of a devastating year for tornado activity across the country. As of early October, the United States has recorded 1,278 tornadoes in 2025, resulting in a total of 68 fatalities nationwide. The season established a busy tone early on, with multiple violent storms long before the arrival of the nation's first EF5 since 2013.

The year's severe weather began with a historic and widespread tornado outbreak from March 13-16. Affecting large portions of the Midwestern and Eastern United States, the event produced 118 confirmed tornadoes, making it the largest tornado outbreak ever recorded for the month of March. The storms were responsible for at least 43 fatalities and caused an estimated $6.25 billion in damages.

The destructive trend continued into the spring. On May 16, a series of powerful tornadoes struck several states. An intense EF3 tornado tore through the Greater St. Louis area in Missouri, causing four fatalities, 38 injuries, and damaging approximately 5,000 properties. On the same day, a deadly, long-tracked tornado devastated communities in Eastern Kentucky, including Somerset and London. That storm system claimed at least 18 lives.

The confirmation of the Enderlin EF5 tornado provides a somber, historical capstone to a season defined by frequent and intense severe weather. The 12-year gap since the last tornado of this magnitude highlights the rarity of such an event, while its occurrence within one of the most active seasons in recent memory serves as a stark reminder of nature's destructive power.