Weather
Northern Utah Tornado Climbed 3,500 Feet Across Mountain Terrain
Northern Utah – A tornado that tore through rugged mountain terrain near Francis Peak has been rated an EF 2 after a National Weather Service damage survey documented estimated peak winds of 120 mph a
By Jordan Mercer · 2026-10-03T13:23:13.852Z
Northern Utah – A tornado that tore through rugged mountain terrain near Francis Peak has been rated an EF 2 after a National Weather Service damage survey documented estimated peak winds of 120 mph and a path nearly 6 miles long.
According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, the tornado struck portions of Davis and Morgan counties from approximately 1:44 to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.
Survey teams determined the tornado traveled 5.93 miles and reached a maximum width of approximately 1.1 miles, or 1,900 yards.
The survey was particularly challenging because of the rugged terrain along the tornado's path. The National Weather Service said the tornado began around 6,000 feet in elevation before climbing to approximately 9,500 feet — an elevation gain of about 3,500 feet.
It then descended roughly 3,200 feet before ending at an elevation near 6,200 feet.
Photos released by the weather service show significant damage to trees along the mountainous path, including large trunks snapped or uprooted and areas of forest with visible damage.
The Enhanced Fujita scale rates tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds derived from observed damage. An EF 2 tornado has estimated three second wind gusts between 111 and 135 mph. Surveyors estimated this tornado's peak winds at 120 mph.
The National Weather Service described the findings as preliminary and thanked those who assisted crews with the difficult damage survey.
The agency’s map shows areas of EF 0, EF 1 and EF 2 damage along the tornado's path near Francis Peak.