You can only see these fire clouds during huge wildfires
Large wildfires are increasingly generating pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which are massive thunderstorm-like systems that can spread smoke and embers over vast distances. These rare weather events are becoming more frequent in North America due to the intensity of modern wildfire seasons.
Why it matters
Understanding these fire-generated weather systems is critical for meteorologists and emergency responders to predict the behavior and spread of extreme wildfires.
July 27 | Duration 1:58 Wildfires in Europe have become so powerful they have created their own thunderstorm-generating weather systems. This has officials in France and Spain urging more be done to prevent the fires from starting. Social Sharing A huge fire in southwest France has generated the country's first recorded pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud .
Such clouds can only be seen during huge wildfires, and are often reported in Canada during wildfire season, most recently during the Boston Bar fire in B.C.
Here's how these special clouds form and how they can make wildfires worse.
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