BISMARCK, N.D. — Recently, North Dakota and New York witnessed the devastating effects of two tornadoes that swept through rural areas, claiming six lives and leaving widespread damage in their wake. These tornadoes, which brought wind speeds exceeding 100 mph, underscore the destructive force of such natural phenomena.
In North Dakota, the storm turned deadly in the rural area of Enderlin, where three elderly individuals, spanning ages from their 70s to 80s, lost their lives late Friday into early Saturday, according to information from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Meanwhile, in central New York’s small hamlet of Clark Mills, a storm on Sunday claimed the lives of three more people, including twin six-year-old sisters, as confirmed by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
The National Weather Service assessed the tornadoes that struck eastern North Dakota preliminarily as EF-2 to EF-3 in intensity, with potential for higher ratings. These classifications correspond to wind speeds ranging from 111 to 135 mph and 136 to 165 mph, respectively, causing various extents of damage. Although such intense tornadoes are unusual in the Northern Plains, they are not impossible, emphasized Meteorologist Jacob Spender.
In their rapid destruction, the tornadoes not only took down countless trees and derailed train cars but also wreaked havoc on homes, Spender pointed out. The severe weather event included supercells and a massive windstorm, known as a derecho, which swept across southeastern North Dakota.
In Page, North Dakota, a small town with just 250 residents, the storm left a trail of destruction that affected numerous trees and buildings. Mayor Jim Heidorn described the hour-long ordeal that significantly altered the town’s landscape, estimating that cleanup efforts might extend into late summer.
Kylie Weber recounted a terrifying experience of the storm at her family’s farm near Oriska. Her bedroom window was torn from its place, the door was forcefully removed from its hinges, and part of the roof was ripped apart. The farm also suffered damage, losing a grain bin amongst other losses.
The aftermath of the storms left thousands without power, highlighting the critical importance of multiple severe weather alerts, such as through smartphones and radios, Spender noted. He pointed out the particular danger of nighttime storms in remote areas, where visibility of approaching weather conditions is limited.
In upstate New York, a tornado with 105 mph winds touched down in the early hours on Sunday during a progression of severe thunderstorms. This EF-1 tornado, spanning over two miles and with a width of approximately 300 yards, traveled from Clark Mills to North Clinton in Oneida County. This storm tragically resulted in the deaths of three people when trees fell on homes, including the home where the young twin sisters lived, and devastated a historic grist mill nearby.
The high winds and thunderstorms also resulted in scattered damages across the region, further emphasizing the fierce and unpredictable nature of these storms.