Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
415 NOUS43 KBIS 261724 PNSBIS NDZ034-270530- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1224 PM CDT Thu Jun 26 2025 ...NWS Damage Survey for 06/20/2025 Tornado Event - Update # 1... .Update... The rating for the tornado that occurred near Sweet Briar Lake has been updated based on additional assessment of a final known damage point, where a wind turbine was snapped and toppled near the bottom of the support pole. Based on this, the tornado has now been rated as an EF-2. .Sweet Briar... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.87 miles Path Width /maximum/: 0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/20/2025 Start Time: 08:48 PM CDT Start Location: 6 NNW Sweet Briar Lake / Morton County / ND Start Lat/Lon: 46.9486 / -101.3247 End Date: 06/20/2025 End Time: 08:59 PM CDT End Location: 6 S Nelson Lake / Morton County / ND End Lat/Lon: 46.9743 / -101.2116 Survey Summary: QLCS tornado damage reported through social media. Damage track starts near the intersection of 41st Ave and 32nd Street, New Salem, approximately 6 miles north-northwest of Sweet Briar Lake. The tornado then tracked east-northeast and impacted 3 farmsteads. The first farm had minimal damage, before the most observed damage occurred at the second farm. This is where two separate farm buildings lost their roofs, and one had the walls destroyed as well, which was consistent with estimated wind speeds of 110 mph which is equivalent to EF-1 damage. There was also a grain bin significantly damaged. About a mile of power poles were broken or leaned over on County Road 84 in between the second and third farms that were hit. The third farm had roof damage to the main house as well as to one of the farm buildings, consistent with EF-1 wind speeds around 110 mph. The tornado then tracked east and hit a wind turbine that lost a blade. The final known damage point is about 7.5 miles north-northeast of Sweet Briar Lake, where a wind turbine was snapped and toppled near the bottom of the support pole. This damage is consistent with wind speeds of around 120 mph, which puts the damage path up to EF-2. The confirmed path so far is approximately 6 miles long and the tornado lasted for 11 minutes. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$