Saturday’s tumbleweed takeover of South Jordan is not isolated, but it’s also not a fiendish plan by the invasive Russian thistle to conquer the western United States. Instead, the occurrences are due to combinations of seasonal wet and dry weather, the death cycle of the plants and strong gusts that propel them.
Iconic Old West tumbleweeds roll in and blanket parts of suburban Salt Lake City

A new species of gigantic tumbleweed once predicted to go extinct is not only here to stay—it’s likely to expand its territory.
Monster tumbleweed: Invasive new species is here to stay
Wow, and it can wworse.