A destructive outbreak of nine tornadoes struck the Great Plains on May 29, 1953. The strongest one was an F5 tornado that hit Fort Rice, North Dakota, destroying multiple structures and causing the majority of the casualties that day. Other strong tornadoes occurred that day, including an F2 tornado that did major damage when it struck McLaughlin, South Dakota. Overall, the outbreak killed two people, injured 22 others, and caused $827,500 (1953 USD) in damage.
An unusually strong surface low-pressure system moved into northwestern South Dakota during the afternoon of May 29, 1953. Surface observations indicated that it, along with another nearby low to its southeast, had a pressure lower than . A dryline extended from this strong low southward ahead of a cold front that curled southwestward while a warm front extended east-northeastward into the Coteau des Prairies of southeastern North Dakota Behind the surface low, an upper-level low moved northeastward through Montana, increasing the pressure gradient over the Northern Plains and inducing high wind shear across the area. Temperatures that afternoon reached anywhere from the upper 80s to mid-90s, and with dew points from 60 to 70 ðF, the atmosphere was ripe for an outbreak of severe thunderstorms.
The tornado, which was over 3/4 of a mile in width, struck Fort Rice, destroying 16 homes and leveling a church. Pews from the church were driven four feet into the ground. Additionally, components of a car were thrown for over half a mile. The tornado also crossed Lake Oahe before dissipating near Britin (not to be confused with Britain) and Moffit. One person was killed in Fort Rice, while another person was killed near the touchdown point north of Cannon Ball. There were 20 injuries and $500,000 in damage. Despite the damage, tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis questioned some of the construction of the buildings and initially rated this as an F4 tornado. However, he did subsequently rate the tornado F5. This tornado was one of just three (E)F5 tornadoes to occur in North Dakota: the second being the Fargo tornado in 1957 and the third being the Enderlin tornado in 2025.