Tornadoes Flatten Homes Near Montezuma Creek; No Injuries Reported

Two tornadoes touched down near Montezuma Creek in San Juan County, Utah, over the weekend, destroying several homes but causing no reported injuries, authorities said.

The storms produced the twisters over the span of about an hour beginning around 12:35 p.m. Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Kris Sanders in Grand Junction, Colorado, said. The paths of the tornadoes likely covered less than 10 miles (16 kilometers), but the agency had not yet determined exact tracks or wind speeds; a survey was expected to be conducted Monday.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a social media post that three homes in the area were demolished. The Navajo Police Department, also in a social media post, said no injuries were reported but that an unknown number of livestock and pets were missing. Images posted by the department showed a towering tornado column surrounded by dark storm clouds and at least one flattened home amid scattered debris.

The incident occurred on the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the United States, which spans approximately 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) across parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Tornadoes are uncommon in southeastern Utah. Sanders said the Weather Service had confirmed only two tornadoes in that part of the state since 1950, underscoring the relative rarity of the event.

Local and tribal officials were assessing damage and working to account for residents and animals in the aftermath. The Navajo Police Department and other local responders posted updates and images on social media as recovery and damage-assessment efforts continued Sunday.

The National Weather Service will use on-the-ground surveys and damage assessments to determine the tornadoes' tracks and wind speeds, Sanders said. Those findings will help clarify the scale of the event and inform any subsequent warnings or guidance for the region.

No further injuries or fatalities had been reported as of Sunday. Authorities urged residents in affected areas to follow local guidance and to report missing family members, pets or livestock to tribal and local emergency services so responders can coordinate assistance and recovery efforts.

The storms that produced the tornadoes also brought severe weather to surrounding areas, prompting weather officials to monitor conditions as surveys and aid efforts proceeded. Further updates were expected after the National Weather Service completed its field assessment.