Independent · Local · Community-first
francis peak tornado officially rated ef2 with 12- mph winds & sets utah width record
NWS survey confirms 5.93-mile path, 1.1-mile-wide twister climbed nearly 9,500 feet through Davis and Morgan County mountains, zero injuries reported.
The tornado that tore across Francis Peak on September 18, 2026 has officially been rated an EF2, according to a National Weather Service damage survey released Oct. 2.
The tornado touched down around 1:44 p.m. near Bair Canyon in Davis County before traveling 5.93 miles across the mountains into Morgan County. The NWS estimates peak winds reached 120 mph, with the tornado snapping and shearing off trees as it climbed toward Francis Peak.
At its widest point, the tornado stretched approximately 1.1 miles (1,900 yards) across setting a new Utah record for tornado width. It remained on the ground for roughly 16 minutes and climbed about 3,500 feet in elevation, reaching near 9,500 feet before descending toward Morgan County.
Despite the tornado’s strength and unusually mountainous path, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
