IN-FORUM: Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks-East Grand Forks IN-FORUM News Weather Sports Opinion Entertainment Business Register
On the evening of June 20, 1957 at 7:30 pm, a deadly F5 tornado moved through north Fargo, killing 12, injuring approximately 150, and destroying or badly damaging over 1,300 homes. To view the National Weather Service Web site click here.
Fargo, N.D. Friday Evening, June 21, 1957

  • WDAY tornado documentary
  • Mercedes Erickson speaks of losing her family
  • John Welton talks about the tornado

View and submit photos of the massive tornado and aftermath and destruction it caused.

Read memories from those that lived through the experience and share your memories of the tornado.

Take a look at late edition of the The Forum from June 21, 1957 (2.5MB PDF file). See the morning edition front page here.




In the wake of the deadly twister, officials entered crisis mode to tend to the injured, remove mountains of debris left behind and rebuild Fargo from the ground up.


A look at what impact the path of the 1957 tornado would have today, comparing early warning technology available then and now, extrapolating damage costs in 2007 figures and juxtaposing the twister’s effect with recent natural disasters.


Dozens were injured and several killed in the 1957 Fargo tornado, but the community response and outpouring of support that followed was unprecedented.