The United States’ 12-year streak without an EF-5 tornado has ended. On Monday (October 6), the National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Forks confirmed that a violent twister that struck Enderlin, North Dakota, on June 20 reached winds of more than 210 mph, earning the highest possible rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

The massive tornado, more than a mile wide, killed three people and left behind catastrophic destruction.

Part of a violent outbreak

The Enderlin tornado was one of 25 twisters that touched down across North Dakota on June 20. The outbreak also produced a derecho and widespread damaging winds across much of the state, making it one of the most destructive weather events in the region in recent decades.

Breaking a record drought

Before this confirmation, the last EF-5

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