Rare Utah tornado touched down, why it's uncommon

AUSTIN (KXAN)-- A rare tornado was spotted Saturday afternoon in San Juan County, Utah. The state only averages between 1 and 3 tornadoes per year, according to the Storm Prediction Center. But why are tornadoes so uncommon in the Beehive State?

Utah's Unique Topography

Utah has 80 mountain ranges, with over 3,400 peaks in total, according to Utah.com. Tornadoes require wind shear (wind direction and strength changing with height) and an abundance of moisture for supercell development.

Utah's arid climate, steep terrain limit low-level winds and atmospheric ingredients are necessary for tornadic storms to form and flourish. According to the Visit Utah's website, the state's average elevation is 6,100 feet above sea level.

There were no reported injuries from Saturday's tornadoes, the Navajo Police Department said in a social media post. However, three homes were damaged.