Today in Minot

It’s been more than a decade since the United States last saw an EF5 tornado — the kind that leaves nothing standing and defies the imagination of even seasoned meteorologists. That changed this summer near Enderlin, North Dakota. After months of analysis, the National Weather Service confirmed what locals already knew: this was no ordinary storm. Winds strong enough to lift and hurl a train car nearly 500 feet marked the state’s first EF5 since Fargo’s infamous 1957 tornado.

Official News Release, National Weather Service

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks conducted additional surveys and worked extensively with wind damage experts to further investigate the June 20, 2025, Enderlin, ND tornado #1. The estimated maximum wind speed of the Enderlin, ND tornado #1 is greater than 210 mph and occurred during the time of the train derailment south of Enderlin, ND.

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 ft (145 m). The maximum wind speed also correlates to the maximum strength on WSR-88D Storm-Relative Velocity data from KMVX.

Additional high-end damage indicators that have been reanalyzed and adjusted include damage to the trees near the Maple River east of Enderlin and damage to farmstead #2 on Hwy 46. Further analysis of the trees surrounding the Maple River shows extensive tree damage throughout the entire river valley, with only stubs of large branches or 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.

Wind damage expert analyses helped determine the damage at farmstead #2 to be complete destruction, with the foundation considered to be swept clean and debris swept downwind and scattered. However, issues surrounding the lack of proper anchoring will limit the overall rating in this area. Trees around the farmstead were also debarked and showed root ball displacements.

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks would like to thank Tim Marshall, Jim LaDue, Dr. Connell Miller, Dr. Greg Kopp, Dr. David Sills, and the entire Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University’s Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory team for their assistance.

Every month, Sabrina Halvorson of the North Dakota News Cooperative pauses to take stock of what community support makes possible — and this time, her reflection carries extra weight. As nonprofit newsrooms across the country cut staff or close their doors, NDNC remains afloat solely through grants and individual donors. Halvorson acknowledges the strain on organizations like Prairie Public but finds hope in North Dakotans’ shared commitment to sustaining quality local journalism — and gratitude for those who continue to make it thrive. Read her installment of the work they’re doing to keep local news and journalism alive in North Dakota linked below.

October 6, 2025 Press Release Minot, ND — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) will host in-person office hours in Minot tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7, to meet directly with constituents. To sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Congresswoman Fedorchak, please click here. “These office hours are a...

Federal support is receding, and the strain is rolling downhill to states, cities, and the neighbors who run them. Roger J. Cohen argues that this moment could spark a reinvention: regional councils and planning bodies—big enough to gain scale, close enough to stay accountable—are poised to tackle cross-border problems from housing to transportation. The promise isn’t nostalgia for the old model; it’s a pragmatic new federalism from the ground up, where collaboration, not partisanship, becomes the engine of public service. Read Mr. Cohen’s full commentary at Route Fifty.

Oil producers are keeping a steady hand on the tiller. Members of the OPEC+ alliance agreed to another modest increase—137,000 barrels a day in November—matching last month’s bump. The move signals confidence in a stable global economy and “healthy market fundamentals,” though the group left room to reverse course if conditions change. Led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, OPEC+ continues its careful balancing act between supporting prices and meeting demand as the world watches for signs of slowdown or strain.

For years, Saturn’s small, icy moon Enceladus has been one of science’s best bets for finding life beyond Earth. Now, new analysis of old data from NASA’s Cassini mission has made that hope a little brighter. Scientists have identified complex organic molecules—chemical cousins of those essential for life—lurking in the moon’s watery plumes. The discovery strengthens the case for a future mission to probe Enceladus’s hidden ocean, where the ingredients for biology may already be quietly mixing beneath the ice. Jacek Krywko with Scientific American has the full story.

Minot’s City Council narrowly rejected a proposal to give local contractors a small bidding advantage on city projects. Council member Rob Fuller pushed for the measure, calling it a way to keep tax dollars circulating in the community and give Minot businesses “a little bit of a chance” against larger competitors. Opponents argued it would shrink competition and raise costs, with some calling it unnecessary protectionism. The vote was close—3 to 4—but enough to send the idea back to the drawing board. Jill Schramm with Minot Daily News has the full story. Watch the discussion below.

Budgets are where a city’s priorities become visible, and on Monday night, Minot’s council made theirs clear. After a long round of debate and last-minute edits, the 2026 budget passed 6–1. Property taxes, infrastructure spending, and economic development all came under scrutiny before the final vote. In the end, council members opted to restore several cuts, fund new equipment, and shift reserve dollars for tax relief and downtown improvements — a balancing act between fiscal restraint and investment. Joe Skurzewski with KMOT has the full story.