Three Killed in North Dakota Tornado Outbreak
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Three people died late Friday in rural Enderlin, North Dakota, after severe storms spawned tornadoes that devastated the area.
According to a Saturday statement on Facebook from the Cass County Sheriff's Office, storm chasers discovered two deceased individuals at one location while first responders found a third victim at another site.
The tornado outbreak left a trail of destruction in eastern North Dakota and across the Northern Plains, damaging homes, downing power lines, and cutting electricity to tens of thousands of residents.
Law enforcement, fire, and emergency crews worked overnight conducting wellbeing checks and search operations, according to the sheriff's office.
Why It Matters
This deadly severe weather event highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of storms affecting the central United States.
The tornadoes and associated winds exceeding 100 miles per hour left thousands without power in North Dakota and Minnesota, disrupting critical services and prompting urgent safety warnings.
As the same storm system moved east, forecasters warned of continuing hazards for millions of Americans already coping with a dangerous heatwave, USA Today reported.
The disaster serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of rural communities to extreme weather and underscores the importance of disaster preparedness, timely public alerts, and coordinated emergency response efforts. Authorities and utility companies face significant challenges in restoring infrastructure and aiding affected populations.
What To Know
Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about tornado damage at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Friday in rural Enderlin, which is about an hour outside of Fargo and the Minnesota state line.
Upon arrival, the Enderlin Fire Department informed deputies that storm chasers had located two deceased individuals, with the third victim found by firefighters at a separate location soon after.
Sheriff Jesse Jahner confirmed the victims were two men and one woman, The Bismarck Tribune reported. Their identities have not yet been released.
The severe thunderstorms and tornadoes caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in several parts of eastern North Dakota, including Urbana, Eckelson, and Buchanan.
Winds exceeding 100 mph—such as a 101-mph gust near Linton and 111 mph gust recorded in Luverne—were reported by the National Weather Service (NWS) and private weather stations.
High winds continue within the red area. THESE ARE LONG DURATION WINDS, lasting over an hour. Gusts have been recorded of up to 100 MPH. Power outages, tree damage, and outbuilding damage are possible. Remain weather aware. #NDwx #MNwx pic.twitter.com/SBqAAHi9nX — NWS Grand Forks (@NWSGrandForks) June 21, 2025
The storms also produced large hail, measured over 3.5 inches in diameter, and led to flash flooding, particularly in Fargo and Bemidji, according to local reports.
As of Saturday morning, approximately 30,000 North Dakota residents and 57,000 in Minnesota were without power at the peak of outages, according to utility companies and official trackers.
Meteorologists attributed the outbreak to a persistent heat dome over the southwestern U.S., which created conditions for destructive thunderstorms across the Northern Plains, Midwest, Northeast, and beyond. Forecasters warned that the ongoing storm system was advancing eastward, with the potential to generate more tornadoes, flash floods, and possibly a derecho event—a long-lived, damaging windstorm—over the next 48 hours, USA Today reported.
The extreme weather coincided with a dangerous heatwave affecting more than 150 million Americans, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees or higher across parts of over two dozen states.
In this stock photo, a tornado is seen in York, Nebraska, on June 20, 2011.
In this stock photo, a tornado is seen in York, Nebraska, on June 20, 2011.
Getty
What People Are Saying
NWS Grand Forks wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday morning: "High winds continue within the red area. THESE ARE LONG DURATION WINDS, lasting over an hour. Gusts have been recorded of up to 100 MPH. Power outages, tree damage, and outbuilding damage are possible. Remain weather aware."
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread in a statement on Saturday: "While North Dakota is no stranger to summer weather, the scale and intensity of last night's storm were especially significant. Our hearts also go out to those who lost their lives during this terrible storm. If your home, farm, vehicle, or business sustained damage, the most important thing you can do right now is to act quickly, document everything, and protect your property from further harm."
What Happens Next?
Disaster recovery information for North Dakota residents is available at insurance.nd.gov/storm and by contacting the Insurance Department at 701-328-2440.
Authorities plan to continue welfare checks and damage assessments throughout the affected region, while utility teams work to restore power.
The NWS and emergency agencies have urged residents to monitor forecasts as the storm system proceeds eastward, with hazardous weather expected in additional states over the next several days.
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