THIS is the moment a massive wedge tornado rips a path of destruction, killing three people and causing thousands to lose power.
The deadly winds ripped through parts of North Dakota, destroying homes and swallowing electric cables.
Officials in Enderlin, North Dakota, south of Fargo, have confirmed the deaths of two men and one woman in two separate areas.
Shocking footage shows the sky lit up by lightning as a dense, mushrooming cloud swirls.
Large hail and powerful winds are thought to have pounded Northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin on Friday, primarily affecting the communities of Spiritwood, Valley City, and Fort Ransom.
Some areas, such as Sheldon, were without power until Saturday evening, affecting approximately 25,000 residents.
While the brutal storm was confirmed as a tornado, crews are still determining its strength and wind speeds.
Meteorologist Timothy Lynch stated, “Essentially, that produced winds of up to 114 mph across a portion of eastern North Dakota and even in northwest Minnesota.”
“I have not seen one since I arrived here. “I’ve been here seven years.
Although an exact figure has yet to be determined, a number of homes sustained extensive damage, with reports of blown-out roofs and damaged buildings.
Michaela and Colton Briss live in the path of the tornado as it traveled north.
The couple was forced to hide in their basement as the tornado destroyed their home’s windows and door frames, according to Inforum.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong said, “Our hearts and sympathies go out to the family and friends of the three North Dakotans who tragically died in Friday’s tornado, as well as the close-knit community of Enderlin, which suffered widespread damage.”
“We thank our dedicated first responders and community leaders, including our many volunteer first responders, for their swift action to keep residents safe and help them recover.”
This comes just a few months after a tornado ripped through Arkansas, rumbling Mirrouri.
As tornadoes wreaked havoc across Tennessee and Missouri, at least four people were killed.
What is a wedge tornado?
A “WEDGE” tornado is the informal name for a particular kind of storm.
As the title implies, these are tornadoes in which the storm forms a distinct wedge shape against the sky.
In a wedge tornado, the storm’s center is concentrated in a single location, drawing clouds from a large area above.
This is what gives the storm its tight triangular shape.
The dense epicentre of a wedge tornado causes the surrounding winds to reach incredible speeds, sometimes exceeding 200 mph.
This makes this type of storm particularly deadly.
In dramatic footage, a dense grey wedge obscured the sky.
Huge clouds were seen being dragged into the center and swirling down to the ground.
Bright, fiery flashes were captured sparking among the dark mass as electricity cables were severed from their masts.
Debris was seen flying around the tornado as it ripped through trees and buildings.
The storm was first spotted just east of Jonesboro before moving northeast towards the Missouri state line.
Winds of nearly 200 mph accompanied the violent vortex, exacerbating the carnage.
Brandon Copic, a Fox Weather storm chaser who braved an approach, stated at the time, “It’s coming very close to me. There is an audible roar going on right now.
Weather experts estimated it was at least a four on the EF scale, with some indications of being even stronger.
A category four storm is described as violent, with wind speeds ranging from 166 to 200 mph, capable of causing catastrophic damage, levelling well-built structures, and tossing vehicles and large objects.
