While North Dakota sees an average of about 23 tornadoes a year, fatalities are rare, National Weather Service data indicates. The last tornado to claim three or more lives in the state was a July 4, 1978, storm that killed five people in Elgin. It was recorded as an F4.

"The Cass County Sheriff’s Office extends its heartfelt sympathies to the victim's families, the community of Enderlin, and all other communities affected by this weekend's trag

The deaths came after a series of large and long-lasting storms moved through North Dakota and Minnesota Friday night.