TUMBLEWEED takes over Utah town leaving residents buried under bushel of thorny branches

Tumbleweeds have taken over a town in Utah, piling up in front of homes and leaving residents trapped under thorny branches. 

Heavy wind gusts Saturday led to the tumbleweed invasion in the northern part of the state and made cities such as South Jordan look like an old western movie scene.

Along with intense winds and the balls of dead foliage, parts of the state also experienced snow - forcing residents to shovel out fresh powder and tumbleweeds. 

Dayne Moss, a resident from Daybreak, a neighborhood in South Jordan, told Fox 13 that when the tumbleweeds arrived, 'it sounded like a tornado.' 

'The whole side of the house, almost up to the second story, it was just tumbleweed. And it was like you couldn't even see across the road because it was just, the whole road was blocked,' Moss said. 

Tumbleweeds rolled into South Jordan, Utah, on Saturday. The dead balls of foliage piled high on top of houses, vehicles and lawns

Residents tried to clean up the tumbleweeds with shovels as they were seen scooping the branch-filled balls into large dumpsters

Other images showed the countless weeds as they made their way across a busy road that was left covered in a dusty haze. 

An aerial shot of homes about 2o minutes from Salt Lake City showed the tumbleweeds piled high on top of resident's lawns, as some blocked the front doors.

Even with the unusual occurrence, people came outside and helped each other clean up the mess that the tumbleweeds brought. 

'They stayed a little bit and did some extra help and brought out some dumpsters, and some other things,' Phi Webb, another resident in the area said. 

'So we'll be at it for a couple of days cleaning up all the tumbleweeds.'

Another picture showed a car nearly consumed by tumbleweeds and left just the top of the vehicle visible. 

Residents tried to clean up the tumbleweeds with shovels as they dumped the branch-filled balls into dumpsters.  

The rolling balls of weeds are known to invade states all across the US, except Alaska and Florida, according to the Natural History Museum. They are most commonly found in parts of western North America and central, particularly in locations with pastures and hayfields.

A car was nearly consumed by tumbleweeds and left just the top of the vehicle visible. The plants are known to pile up on top of fences, homes, vehicles and can even become tangled in electrical lines and make its way into other plants

Tumbleweeds contain seeds that germinate in the spring and flower in the fall and spring. They are also only able to reproduce by seed. Pictured: Tumbleweeds spread across a neighborhood in South Jordan 

Kali tragus, also known as Russian thistle, is an annual plant that is formed into a rounded shape and separated from its roots and is a species of tumbleweed. 

Russian thistle is invasive and known as a noxious weed that is poisonous to animals and should not be eaten, according to Lawn Starter. 

Tiny rodents and antelope are known to munch on the branchy weeds.  

Tumbleweeds contain seeds that germinate in the spring and flower in the fall and spring. They are also only able to reproduce by seed. 

The dead foliage first came to the country in the 1870s, and created one of the biggest 'plant invasions' in US history, Lawn Starter reported. 

Though they are not known to be extremely dangerous, tumbleweeds can present fire hazards, allergic reactions, pest problems and can harm nearby crops. 

They are known to pile up on top of fences, homes, vehicles and can even become tangled in electrical lines and make its way into other plants. 

In October 2022, a Colorado couple's property was overtaken by giant tumbleweeds that left them unable to open their front door or leave their driveway. 

In October 2022, a Colorado couple's property was overtaken by giant tumbleweeds that left them unable to open their front door or leave their driveway.

Fountain, Colorado, homeowner Marlies Gross described the situation then as 'horrible' and 'like a horror movie. 

'It's very eerie and very creepy,' she said of the tumbleweeds that inundated her property.

When Gross and her husband woke up that morning, they found their front yard and driveway had been 'submerged' with tumbleweeds due to 60 mph winds over the weekend. 

The couple, who called the local police and county for help, were told public officials could not be of help with the situation because it occurred on private property.

After obtaining estimates from a landscaper, Gross said the total cost to clear the tumbleweed would come in at around $6,500.