In brief
SOUTHEASTERN UTAH — Over the weekend, tornadoes swept through San Juan County, damaging multiple homes but thankfully resulting in no injuries. The National Weather Service reported two tornadoes touched down near Montezuma Creek, marking a rare occurrence in the area where only two tornadoes have been confirmed since 1950. A survey is planned to assess the tornadoes' tracks and wind speeds, as community officials work to address missing livestock and pets.
MONTICELLO, Utah (AP) — Tornadoes destroyed several homes in southeastern Utah over the weekend, but authorities reported no injuries. A storm resulted in the touchdown of two tornadoes in San Juan County, starting around 12:35 p.m. Saturday, according to meteorologist Kris Sanders with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, Colorado.The tornadoes' paths near Montezuma Creek were likely less than 10 miles (16 kilometers), with the weather service still investigating their exact tracks and wind speeds. A survey is scheduled for Monday, Sanders stated.Local officials, including Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, indicated that three homes were completely demolished. The Navajo reservation encompasses a vast area of 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) across Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.While no injuries were reported, the Navajo Police Department shared that an unknown number of livestock and pets went missing during the storm. Images released by the department depicted a towering tornado surrounded by dark clouds, alongside pictures of flattened homes amid debris.Tornado occurrences are quite rare in this part of Utah, with only two confirmed since 1950, according to meteorologist Sanders.
