Tumbleweeds Trap Commuters on Washington Highway

Photo: Twitter/Trooper C. Thorson

Several motorists were trapped on a highway in Washington state on New Year's Eve. The reason was due to tumbleweeds.

Strong winds sent several tumbleweeds onto the highway.

In some areas, the tumbleweeds were over 9 metres high.

Several vehicles became stuck.

The road was closed for about 10 hours while crews worked to clear the highway.

A tumbleweed is a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of several species of plants, a diaspore that, once it is mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem, and rolls due to the force of the wind.