Landspout Tornado Spotted Near Utah-Idaho Border

Rare weather phenomenon captured on video by driver on Interstate 84

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:34pm

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A dramatic landscape painting depicting a massive, swirling landspout tornado dominating the frame, with an empty highway and countryside dwarfed by the powerful natural forces on display.A rare landspout tornado, an unusual weather phenomenon formed from the ground up, looms over a remote stretch of highway near the Utah-Idaho border.Salt Lake City Today

A landspout tornado, a type of tornado that forms from the ground up rather than from a rotating thunderstorm, was spotted and recorded on video near the Utah-Idaho border on April 12, 2026. The rare weather event was captured by a driver on Interstate 84 and shared on social media by a local meteorologist, who explained the key differences between landspouts and traditional tornadoes.

Why it matters

Landspouts are an uncommon weather phenomenon that can still pose a risk to public safety, especially in rural areas near state borders where emergency response coordination can be more challenging. This sighting highlights the importance of public awareness and preparedness for unexpected severe weather events.

The details

The landspout was spotted around 2:30 pm on April 12, 2026 near the town of Snowville, Utah, close to the Utah-Idaho border. A driver on Interstate 84 captured video of the rare weather event, which showed a swirling column of air extending from the ground up to a growing cumulus cloud above. Unlike traditional tornadoes that form from rotating thunderstorms, landspouts develop from the ground up along weather boundaries without strong rotation aloft.

  • The landspout was spotted around 2:30 pm on April 12, 2026.

The players

Chase Thomason

A meteorologist at KUTV 2News in Salt Lake City, Utah who shared the video of the landspout on his Facebook page and provided expert commentary on the differences between landspouts and traditional tornadoes.

The Driver

An unidentified person driving on Interstate 84 near Snowville, Utah who captured the video of the landspout.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't your typical tornado … this is a landspout. Landspouts form from the ground up — not from a rotating thunderstorm like the classic tornadoes you see on the Plains. They're usually weaker, but as you can see … still impressive.”

— Chase Thomason, Meteorologist

“Traditional tornadoes usually develop from organized, rotating thunderstorms (supercells), where rotation starts in the cloud and works its way down. A landspout, on the other hand, forms from the ground up along boundaries before a storm is fully developed, often beneath a growing cumulus cloud and without strong rotation aloft.”

— Chase Thomason, Meteorologist

What’s next

Local meteorologists and emergency management officials will continue to monitor the weather conditions in the area and provide updates to the public on any potential severe weather threats.

The takeaway

This rare sighting of a landspout tornado near the Utah-Idaho border serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of severe weather, even in rural areas, and the importance of public awareness and preparedness for unexpected weather events.