Massive tumbleweed avalanche blamed for regional power outage across Wyoming and South Dakota

Four way in Rapid City, SD effected by the widespread power outage. (Photo courtesy of msn.com)

Officials confirmed early this morning that the widespread power outage affecting large portions of Wyoming and western South Dakota was caused by what experts are calling a “tumbleweed surge event,” after an overnight windstorm pushed thousands of dry tumbleweeds into a major electrical substation near the state line.

Wind gusts reportedly topped 70 mph, creating what one technician described as “a biblical-level tumbleweed migration.” The rolling clusters packed so tightly against the substation’s perimeter fencing that they quickly climbed several feet high, eventually spilling over the fence and wedging themselves directly into cooling fans and high-voltage components.

The resulting clog caused the system to trip offline at 3:12 a.m., triggering a cascading failure across multiple connected grids.

Crews spent hours attempting to reach the station, with one lineman reporting that visibility was “zero, like driving through a hay bale hurricane.”

Emergency responders warn residents not to burn the accumulated tumbleweeds, as the pile is currently estimated to be “somewhere between 14 and 20 tons” and would “definitely create its own weather.”

Power is expected to be restored once crews finish clearing the drifting vegetation, a process that officials say could take several more hours depending on wind conditions.

The post Massive tumbleweed avalanche blamed for regional power outage across Wyoming and South Dakota first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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