Tornadoes in North Dakota
The Storm Prediction Center records 1,756 tornadoes that touched North Dakota between 1950 and 2025, and 1,737 of them began there. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in every state it touched. They killed 32 people and injured 369. The busiest month is June, with 678 tornadoes.
- 1,756tornadoes
- 32deaths
- 369injuries
- 255per 10,000 sq mi of land
- 53counties touched
Tornadoes per 10,000 square miles lets you compare states of different sizes. It counts every tornado that touched the state.
How strong were North Dakota's tornadoes?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 1,052 | 60% |
| F1 / EF1 | 433 | 25% |
| F2 / EF2 | 145 | 8% |
| F3 / EF3 | 40 | 2% |
| F4 / EF4 | 11 | <1% |
| F5 / EF5 | 3 | <1% |
| Unknown rating | 72 | 4% |
North Dakota tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 88 |
| 1960s | 144 |
| 1970s | 231 |
| 1980s | 236 |
| 1990s | 272 |
| 2000s | 343 |
| 2010s | 286 |
| 2020s | 156 |
The record has changed over the decades as detection and reporting improved, so more weak tornadoes show up in recent years than in the 1950s. The year with the most in North Dakota was 2025, with 82.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 1 |
| Apr | 10 |
| May | 182 |
| Jun | 678 |
| Jul | 542 |
| Aug | 282 |
| Sep | 50 |
| Oct | 6 |
| Nov | 5 |
| Dec | 0 |
Deadliest tornadoes that touched North Dakota
- Fargo, North Dakota tornado20 June 1957, F5, 10 deaths, 103 injuries, 52.4 miles long
- Elgin, North Dakota tornado4 July 1978, F4, 5 deaths, 35 injuries, 26 miles long
- Enderlin, North Dakota tornado20 June 2025, EF5, 3 deaths, 12.1 miles long
- Solen, North Dakota tornado29 May 1953, F5, 2 deaths, 20 injuries, 14.8 miles long
- Walcott, North Dakota tornado2 July 1955, F4, 2 deaths, 19 injuries, 9.1 miles long
- Venturia, North Dakota tornado31 July 1966, F3, 2 deaths, 4 injuries, 26.4 miles long
Strongest tornadoes that touched North Dakota
- Fargo, North Dakota tornado20 June 1957, F5, 10 deaths, 103 injuries, 52.4 miles long
- Enderlin, North Dakota tornado20 June 2025, EF5, 3 deaths, 12.1 miles long
- Solen, North Dakota tornado29 May 1953, F5, 2 deaths, 20 injuries, 14.8 miles long
- Elgin, North Dakota tornado4 July 1978, F4, 5 deaths, 35 injuries, 26 miles long
- Walcott, North Dakota tornado2 July 1955, F4, 2 deaths, 19 injuries, 9.1 miles long
- New England, North Dakota tornado29 June 1975, F4, 1 death, 4 injuries, 68 miles long
Most recent tornadoes in North Dakota
- North Dakota tornado18 September 2025, Unknown rating, 0.2 miles long
- North Dakota tornado17 September 2025, Unknown rating, 1.1 miles long
- North Dakota tornado14 September 2025, Unknown rating, 0.2 miles long
- North Dakota tornado14 September 2025, Unknown rating, 1.8 miles long
- North Dakota tornado14 September 2025, Unknown rating, 3.4 miles long
Notable North Dakota tornadoes with their own pages
- Fargo, North Dakota tornado20 June 1957, F5, 10 deaths, 103 injuries, 52.4 miles long
- Elgin, North Dakota tornado4 July 1978, F4, 5 deaths, 35 injuries, 26 miles long
- Enderlin, North Dakota tornado20 June 2025, EF5, 3 deaths, 12.1 miles long
- Solen, North Dakota tornado29 May 1953, F5, 2 deaths, 20 injuries, 14.8 miles long
- Walcott, North Dakota tornado2 July 1955, F4, 2 deaths, 19 injuries, 9.1 miles long
- Venturia, North Dakota tornado31 July 1966, F3, 2 deaths, 4 injuries, 26.4 miles long
- New England, North Dakota tornado29 June 1975, F4, 1 death, 4 injuries, 68 miles long
- Regan, North Dakota tornado1 July 1952, F4, 1 death, 26 injuries, 48 miles long
- Northwood, North Dakota tornado26 August 2007, EF4, 1 death, 18 injuries, 5 miles long
- Wibaux, Montana tornado19 July 1952, F3, 1 death, 2 injuries, 16.4 miles long
- Bowbells, North Dakota tornado12 August 2010, EF3, 1 death, 1 injury, 5 miles long
- Palermo, North Dakota tornado5 July 1955, F4, 28 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.
North Dakota counties
Every county that a tornado has touched is listed, most tornadoes first. 53 of them have at least 3 tornadoes and their own page.