[1][2][3] The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota rated the worst of the damage from the tornado EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

[9] The National Weather Service rated the damage to the newly built machine shop EF3, with winds estimated to have been between 136–165 miles per hour (219–266 km/h).

[1][8][6][4] As the tornado continued northeast, it struck a well-built two-story house on a rural homestead along 120th Street, which was decimated and completely swept off its foundation with debris widely scattered.

Two people sheltered in the basement and survived with injuries after the tornado hurled debris, including an entire vehicle, into the suddenly exposed space.

[10] The homestead was judged by the National Weather Service to be the tornado's point of maximum intensity, with estimated wind speeds of at least 170 miles per hour (270 km/h) and a damage rating of EF4.