Tornadoes Kill 3 in North Dakota, Midwest Faces Extreme Heat

A severe storm system swept through parts of North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin, producing deadly tornadoes that claimed four lives and caused widespread destruction. Three people, two men and one woman, died in the rural town of Enderlin, North Dakota, where homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and nearly 25,000 residents lost power. A fourth fatality occurred in Clinton, New York, when strong winds from the same storm system caused a tree to fall on a vehicle. Preliminary ratings by the National Weather Service indicated that the Enderlin tornado was at least an EF-3, with wind speeds estimated between 136 and 165 mph, while nearby tornadoes were rated EF-2 and EF-3. The storms coincided with a major heat wave affecting much of the U.S., raising concerns about a 'ring of fire' effect due to high-pressure systems. Emergency responders, including sheriff’s deputies and fire departments, collaborated with storm chasers to locate victims and assess damage, while communities are coping with power outages, structural damage, and ongoing investigations into the storm's full impact.