The size of this tumbleweed
pic.twitter.com/WBJ5EMjfdy— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) November 21, 2023
Massive tumbleweed seen rolling down California highway alongside traffic
A car-sized tumbleweed was spotted racing down a California highway Tuesday.
The massive roaming weed followed the flow of traffic as it rolled through Simi Valley, video shows.
The National Weather Service confirmed that the colossal tumbleweed was created and powered by Santa Ana Winds, which occurs when air from a region of high pressure over the dry desert flows westward toward low pressure on the California coast.
The state’s coast is experiencing moderate Santa Ana Winds this week, with 45 mph gusts expected to hit some areas over the weekend.
“We saw a giant tumbleweed like this in Simi Valley yesterday! Anyone else in #SoCal have a recent tumbleweed experience due to the #SantaAnaWinds?” the NWS’s Los Angeles division wrote on Twitter.
The video — which racked up more than 10 million views — drew social media users who were flabbergasted by the tumbleweed’s height and density.
“Thats a tumble buffalo,” one user wrote.
“Looks like Mother Nature is playing tumbleweed basketball!” said another.
Another wrote: “That looks more like a hay bale!”
Although the plant ball appeared extraordinarily massive, tumbleweeds are known to grow up to 6 feet tall without intervention.