A rare and terrifying tornado was seen ripping through Utah’s desert terrain on Saturday afternoon, destroying homes and prompting residents to flee.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Colorado issued a tornado warning at 12:46 p.m. MDT after confirming the twister was headed northeast.

‘A tornado is on the ground. Take cover now!’ the NWS warned. 

The weather service urged locals to ‘move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.’  

‘Steer clear of windows. If you are outside, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, seek the nearest substantial shelter and shield yourself from flying debris,’ the alert advised.

The tornado eventually made contact with the ground near Montezuma Creek, located approximately 345 miles from Salt Lake City, where law enforcement observed the dark, funnel-shaped cloud descend to the ground.

The tornado warning remained in effect until 1:15 p.m. as the NWS claimed significant  damage was to be expected. 

A rare and terrifying tornado was seen ripping through Utah ‘s desert terrain on Saturday afternoon, destroying homes and prompting residents to flee

The tornado ultimately touched down near Montezuma Creek – around 345 miles from Salt Lake City – where law enforcement reported witnessing the dark, funnel-shaped cloud touching down.

‘Flying debris poses a significant danger to those lacking protection. Mobile homes will suffer damage or destruction. Expect damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles, and tree damage is likely,’ the NWS warned.

Several homes were leveled as a result of the unexpected windstorm. 

‘As of 4:31 p.m., confirmation has been made that several homes near Montezuma Creek have been completely destroyed following a tornado that passed through the area this afternoon,’ reported the Navajo Police Department.

No injuries were recorded; however, officials urged people to avoid roads and stay clear of the affected areas while emergency assessments and recovery activities were in progress.

Photos shared by Navajo Police showed the tornado tracking across the open desert terrain – a phenomenon that the state typically sees about three times per year.

Utah’s dry climate and rugged topography make it unfavorable for tornado development, according to Fox Weather.

The Beehive State’s tornadoes are ‘usually smaller in size, measuring no more than 60 feet wide (at the base), with a path length usually less than a mile and a life span of only a few seconds to a few minutes,’ according to NWS forecasters.

The weather service urged locals to ‘move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building’

‘Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely,’ the NWS stated

Several homes were leveled as a result of the unexpected windstorm

Following the unexpected weather event, the state highway patrol and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office were deployed to assist. 

The Utah Navajo Health System also established an Incident Command Post, and local schools opened facilities to provide shelter for displaced residents.

Alongside the tornado threat, the storm brought heavy rainfall to the Four Corners region – the only place in the country where four states, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, meet at a single point.

In neighboring Colorado, the NWS issued multiple flash flood warnings and a flash flood emergency after radar indicated up to three inches of rain fell close to the Utah-Colorado border. 

Flash flooding was reported in Mesa County where local authorities conducted water rescues along State Highway 141, according to officials.

No injuries or missing persons were reported, but the full extent of the flooding remained unclear as of Saturday evening.