Yusra Farzan
covers Orange County and its 34 cities, watching those long meetings — boards, councils and more — so you don’t have to.
Published November 22, 2023 10:38 AM
A tumbleweed lies in the sands of the Kern River in 2014 in Bakersfield, California.
(
David McNew
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
After the National Weather Service for Los Angeles posted that they saw a giant — emphasis on giant — tumbleweed in Simi Valley, Southern Californians are on the watch for others. Respondents said they spotted tumbleweeds on the move in Irvine, on the southbound 5 Freeway, Carson, Oxnard and Woodland Hills.
What are tumbleweeds: Tumbleweed — or Russian thistle — is not native to California. In late fall and early winter, high winds like the Santa Anas result in the weed breaking from its root and rolling around the landscape.
Fire hazard: Given that they're a fire hazard, in Los Angeles County, tumbleweeds fall under the weed abatement program. Inspectors go to properties with tumbleweeds and, if deemed a fire hazard, the owner is contacted to have them removed by a set deadline.
Neither did I until Tuesday evening, when the National Weather Service for Los Angeles posted that they saw a giant — emphasis on giant — tumbleweed in Simi Valley brought on by those dreaded Santa Ana winds.
The video spurred Southern Californians to join tumbleweed watch, with respondents reporting tumbleweeds on the move in Irvine, Carson, Oxnard, Woodland Hills and on the 5 Freeway.
This TikToker pulled over and wanted to take a tumbleweed home.
Tumbleweed — or Russian thistle — is not native to California. According to research out of the University of California, it was introduced stateside in the early 1800s by Russian immigrants. Now, the weed grows abundantly in California’s climate on “poorly tended landscapes,” like along freeways and vacant desert lots.
In late fall and early winter, high winds like the Santa Anas result in the weed breaking from its root and rolling around the landscape.
Given that they are a fire hazard, in Los Angeles County, tumbleweeds fall under the weed abatement program. Inspectors go to properties with tumbleweeds and, if deemed a fire hazard, the owner is contacted to have them removed by a set deadline.
