Watch: Tumbleweeds take over Utah during winter storm, netizens react

In 2018, a tumbleweed storm very similar to the one in Utah had wreaked havoc in California, bringing the entire town to a screeching halt. Tumbleweeds, often the bushy parts of a Russian invasive weed called thistle, detach during winter and scatter across the landscape, causing disruptions and creating amusing yet shocking scenes captured on social media. When the plant dies, the bushy part gets snapped off at the root and blows away in the wind. It is this dead bushy part which causes problems when it blows across the landscape, sometimes even inundating cities altogether.

Watch the videos below:

🚨#BREAKING: Hundreds of thousands of Tumbleweeds have taken over a Utah neighborhood

📌#SouthJordan | #Utah

Currently, crews are actively working to clean up after high winds has caused hundreds of thousands of dried-up tumbleweeds to pile up in a neighborhood in South… pic.twitter.com/nXxMDRHqjj

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 3, 2024

One of the videos was shared by @rawsalert on X and it has garnered over 5 million views and comments.

“Currently, crews are actively working to clean up after high winds has caused hundreds of thousands of dried-up tumbleweeds to pile up in a neighborhood in South Jordan, Utah. Some cars and homes were buried by the tumbleweeds, posing a significant problem and concern due to their major fire risk, as they can rapidly catch fire and spread,” said the caption of the video posted by @rawsalert.

Meanwhile in Utah they got a little tumbleweed problem pic.twitter.com/xandSJOmb4

— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) March 3, 2024

The videos have left netizens in shock and laughter.

One user wrote, “They should get it clear on time, it might be dangerous.” Another added, “I lived in Utah for about a year when I was a kid and my siblings and I would keep the tumbleweeds as pets because our parents wouldn’t get a dog.”

Tumbleweeds take over Utah town amid winter storm https://t.co/SFOZ1u8MOc pic.twitter.com/WrojPJ4ZOv

— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) March 4, 2024

Utah Windstorm Rivals Idaho, Unleashes Tumbleweed Havoc in South Jordan

Read more: https://t.co/XHvSRnJUn5#US #Utah #Tumbleweed #Tumbleweeds #SouthJordan #Idaho pic.twitter.com/cwPmxnfxle

— Nimrah Khatoon (@KashifNimrah) March 5, 2024

A third said, “I grew up in Palm Springs, California in the early 80’s, I remember this happening out in the desert areas during the big wind storms we would get frequently. It was crazy dodging all the tumbleweeds & us kids would use them to build forts.”