ENDERLIN, N.D. – An extensive forensic analysis of a deadly June tornado in North Dakota helped National Weather Service teams confirm the first EF-5 tornado in the U.S. in more than 12 years.

The tornado was part of a powerful derecho that brought twisters and 100-plus-mph wind gusts across North Dakota and western Minnesota from June 20-21, leaving a trail of damage and power outages across the region.

Three people were killed when a tornado swept through the rural town of Enderlin , North Dakota, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office . Initial damage surveys gave the tornado a preliminary rating of EF-3 or stronger on the Enhanced Fujita Scale . Now, three months later, NWS teams with the Grand Forks office have completed the additional analysis to rate the deadly tornado an E

See Full Page