The nation's most recent EF-5 tornado roared near Enderlin, North Dakota, in June, killing three people.

The nation's longest "drought" for the most extreme type of tornado has come to an end, scientists from the National Weather Service announced.

The tornado that ended the 12-year gap actually hit back in June, but new damage analysis has upgraded a deadly twister initially categorized as an EF3 near Enderlin, North Dakota. Now it is considered an EF5, the most dangerous category, with wind speeds estimated at 210 mph.

The tornado was more than a mile wide, sent train cars airborne and killed three people. It is the nation's first EF5 tornado since one hit Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013.

The period between the Moore and Enderlin tornadoes is the longest for the worst type of tornado since the beginning of official records in 1950.

What is an EF5 tornado?

An EF5 rated tornado has wind speeds of 201 mph or greater. According to the weather service, in an EF5, "well constructed homes are swept away, steel-reinforced concrete structures are critically damaged, trees are usually completely debarked, stripped of branches and snapped."

What happened in the June tornado?

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota, conducted additional surveys and worked with wind damage experts to further investigate the June 20, 2025, tornado.

In a report released online Oct. 6, the weather service said: "The estimated maximum wind speed of the Enderlin, North Dakota, tornado is greater than 210 mph and occurred during the time of the train derailment south of Enderlin. The analysis involved forensic damage wind speed estimates for tipping several fully-loaded grain hopper cars and lofting of tanker cars, including one empty tanker car that was tossed about 475.7 feet."

Damage to trees near the Maple River east of Enderlin and to a farmstead on Highway 46 also led to the adjustment, the weather service said.

"Further analysis of the trees surrounding the Maple River show extensive tree damage throughout the entire river valley with only stubs of large branches or large trunks remaining and debarking with a 'sandpapering' effect prevalent. Trees with attached root ball displacements were noted, including one where the original location could not be determined."

What is the Enhanced Fujita scale?

Tornadoes are classified on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which ranges from EF0 to EF5.

Originally created by famed tornado researcher Ted Fujita, the scale takes into account estimated wind speeds, observed damage and damage verified in weather service surveys after tornadoes.

Why are EF5 tornadoes so rare?

EF5 tornado ratings are rare for two reasons: The first is that tornadoes of that intensity are mercifully uncommon. Most tornadoes have wind speeds well under the 201 mph threshold for an EF5, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist Anthony Lyza said.

The second reason is ratings are based on damage, and the number of structures that can withstand winds up to EF5 strength are few and far between.

Basically, most buildings would be blown away by an EF4 tornado, so there are few left standing to encounter EF5 damage.

Why the tornado drought?

EF5 tornadoes probably have developed in the meantime that simply weren't counted as such, according to a recent study led by Lyza.

He and his colleagues found little evidence that tornadoes were getting weaker. Instead, it appears that the subjective tornado grading system – which is overseen by the National Weather Service – has gotten tougher on big tornadoes.

"There is no evidence that the occurrence of intense tornadoes has changed, but rather that higher ratings are being applied more strictly," Lyza told USA TODAY.

Doyle Rice is a reporter in the Nation section of USA TODAY, primarily writing about weather and climate.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA's record tornado 'drought' ends with 210 mph monster in Dakotas

Reporting by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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