Investigators confirm EF1 tornado moved through Wellesley
Posted Sep 9, 2026 09:44:04 AM.
Brush and tree debris clean up is still underway in Wellesley this week following a massive storm on Sept. 2 that saw tornadic activity in Waterloo Region.
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed an EF1 tornado moved through the Wellesley area, starting around Manser Rd. and reaching maximum wind speeds of 145 km/h.
The team of researchers say they completed a ground and drone survey of the storm aftermath and found damage to hydro poles, trees, and crops.
A barn roof was also torn off and a converted refrigeration trailer was swept off its foundation.
No injuries were reported.
Just over a week following the storm, the damage survey team has since confirmed four tornadoes (3 EF1, 1 EF0) and three downbursts (2 EF1, 1 EF0) in southwestern Ontario. This includes the twister in Wellesley as well as in Monkton outside of Stratford and around Tavistock.
In the Tavistock and Shakespeare areas, the first tornado, rated at an EF0, was said to have touched down west of Tavistock and caused significant tree and roof damage.
An EF1 tornado was also confirmed to have touched down north of Tavistock in the Shakespeare area, severely damaging crops, trees and barns.
That twister had a maximum wind speed of 155 km/hr, travelling a total of 8.29 km.
“Finally, both tornadoes converged toward a downburst that developed just east of Tavistock and travelled more than 17 km toward the east-southeast,” said the report.
“EF0-rated damage to agricultural structures and trees occurred with this downburst as well.”
The team confirmed there were no injuries due to the twisters and downburst.
