North Dakota Breaks Yearly Tornado Record

There's a new state record in North Dakota after this weekend's severe weather tore through the nation's 39th state.

The National Weather Service offices in Bismarck and Grand Fork say North Dakota has broken the record for most tornadoes in a year, surpassing the previous total of 61 set in 1999.

Severe storms swept through Central North Dakota on Sunday, and Bismarck is still doing storm surveys and confirming the number of actual touchdowns that occurred during the event. Once finalized, a new record will be set.

North Dakota typically sees about 29 tornadoes each year, but before September 14th, the state had already seen 58 for 2025.

Preliminary ratings from Sunday's event include an EF-1 just west of Mercer, ND, and EF-2 level damage in the Denhoff, ND area. Additional EF-2 damage was found approximately 13 miles west of Linton, ND. The office says more details will be released as the surveys are completed.

Jeff Schild, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Bismarck said Sunday's event was a bit of an unusual set up, and resembled more of an event you would see in the southeastern U.S. instead of the plains. The high shear environment contributed to several tornadoes touching down, but also mentioned the lack of hail the storms produced.