The Fargo tornado facts for kids

The Fargo tornado was a super powerful F5 tornado that hit Fargo, North Dakota, on Thursday, June 20, 1957. This tornado was part of a bigger group of storms. These storms caused five different tornadoes in the area that day.

The powerful Fargo tornado as it moved through the city.

What Happened?

The tornado caused a lot of damage. It affected 100 city blocks in Fargo. About 329 homes were completely destroyed. Some houses were even swept right off their foundations. This kind of damage shows just how strong an F5 tornado can be.

Why Was It Important?

A famous scientist named Dr. Ted Fujita studied the Fargo tornado very closely. Because of his studies, he created many important terms that scientists still use today to describe parts of tornadoes. These terms include:

• wall cloud
• tail cloud
• collar cloud

Fifty years after the tornado, on June 20, 2007, many people who lived through the event had a reunion in Fargo, North Dakota. They gathered to remember that day.