A Video Of A Giant Tumbleweed Has Southern Californians On The Lookout For Others

Remember when strong winds led to a tumbleweed takeover in Victorville on the outskirts of the Mojave Desert in 2018?

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.

A tumbleweed on the curbside.

(

TikTok user: rachael_raee

)

One shopper spotted one at the Topanga mall.

And as if navigating traffic on the 405 Freeway isn't hard enough, add a tumbleweed into the mix.

What are tumbleweeds?

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.