Tumbleweeds Swallow Cars, Shut Down Highway

news image
Special Stories
1 Jan 2020 9:09 PM
In southeast Washington Tuesday, the snowplows came out to clear the highway of...tumbleweeds! https://twitter.com/wspd3pio/status/1212198578933755905 Trooper Thorson updated the public via Twitter New Year's Eve & Day after strong winds literally swallowed vehicles on Washington Route 240! https://twitter.com/wspd3pio/status/1212291477260230657 It's impressive to get tumbleweeds scooting across any highway, but to get them "piled 20-30 feet in places" as Trooper Thorson mentions, is really something! Daylight broke New Year's Day and public works was able to clear the roadway and get to the vehicles. This particular vehicle did not have anyone inside. https://twitter.com/wspd3pio/status/1212403363326779392 Wind gusts were in the range of 40 miles per hour through New Year's, but some locations across the West had wind gusts up to 80 or 90 mph (mostly in Montana, Wyoming).
All Weather News
More
East Coast Snow.... What We Know About the Late Week System

East Coast Snow.... What We Know About the Late Week System

What We KnowA larger trough will help several

11 Nov 2026 2:30 AM
Severe Threat Rolls Returns to the Ohio Valley

Severe Threat Rolls Returns to the Ohio Valley

An interesting setup is rolling through the M

11 Nov 2026 2:15 AM
Wet Pattern Targets West Coast This Weekend Bringing Snow & Rain

Wet Pattern Targets West Coast This Weekend Bringing Snow & Rain

It has been active for portions of the West t

11 Nov 2026 2:10 AM
Lake Effect Machine May Fire Up Midweek

Lake Effect Machine May Fire Up Midweek

We've got a party getting started in the midw

11 Nov 2026 2:05 AM
Tropics Update: Pena Spinning in the Pacific

Tropics Update: Pena Spinning in the Pacific

Hurricane season isn’t over yet. The National

10 Nov 2026 11:55 AM
Texas Flood Threat To Start The Week

Texas Flood Threat To Start The Week

Rain is tapering off after the heavy totals t

9 Nov 2026 10:55 PM
Heavy Rain Brings Flooding Concerns to Northeast as Storm System Moves East

Heavy Rain Brings Flooding Concerns to Northeast as Storm System Moves East

The same system that has produced unsettled w

7 Nov 2026 10:00 PM