Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Tropical trouble could stir near Southeast beaches around 4th of July. Get details Chevron right
Severe storms, flash flooding to bring July Fourth holiday travel hassles. Get details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

77°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

77°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

What are pyrocumulus clouds?

By Andy Kalmowitz, AccuWeather staff writer

Copied

On May 8, a wildfire in Texas led to a very unusual weather event — a pyrocumulus cloud that ended up causing a thunderstorm cell.

But, what is a pyrocumulus cloud? Simply put, it is a cumulus cloud that is formed by hot air and smoke being released into the sky, usually during volcanic eruptions, or in Texas’s case, by wildfires.

Wildfire initiated severe storm in Texas Panhandle ironically heading toward western OK with much needed rainfall for areas previously impacted by wildfires! #nature @breakingweather pic.twitter.com/ns5QPuOZXq

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) May 12, 2018

According to NASA, the clouds are usually gray, black or brown. This is because of the smoke released into the air. They can be nearly 5 miles high.

RELATED:

Photos: What is a lenticular cloud?
What is a horseshoe cloud?

Related:

Photos: Ominous wavelike asperitas clouds loom over Chicago

They form similarly to cumulus clouds, which form because of rising air caused by the ground being warmer than the air. This causes moisture to form around particulates that are usually dust, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell.

There have been multiple sightings of pyrocumulus clouds around the country recently, including this one in Colorado on May 14.

New: lightning initiated wildfire well northeast of Arriba, CO 20 min ago! Tried to get closer and thankfully it was snuffed out by the rain/hail #wildfire @breakingweather @accuweather pic.twitter.com/cyOw0qKzE3

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) May 14, 2018

The main difference between pyrocumulus and normal cumulus clouds is that they form at a much more rapid rate due to extreme heating and condensation. According to LiveScience, air condenses rapidly as it goes up into the sky above the flames of the wildfire. While this is happening, burning plants on the ground evaporate moisture.

“When you add a wildfire, you get massive amounts of heat on the ground, and also a lot of particulates, clouds and later thunderstorms form from wildfires in environments which would not otherwise produce them,” Ferrell said.

800px-FireClouds.jpg

(Photo/John Higson Wikimedia Commons)

According to Ferrell, in some cases, the storms can actually put the fire they spawned from out due to prevailing winds and the rain from the thunderstorm.

“The International Cloud Atlas, which is the official source for cloud names, lists pyrocumulus as a nickname for a cloud caused by a wildfire – the cloud type is officially called ‘Cumulus congestus flammagenitus’ until it turns into a thunderstorm, in which case it becomes (officially) ‘Cumulonimbus calvus flammagenitus,’” Ferrell said.

Partner Module Enhancement
Report a Typo

Weather News

Recreation

Boulders narrowly miss swimmers at popular Utah waterfall

Jun. 27, 2025
Weather Forecasts

July 4 Forecast: Thunderstorms to focus over Upper Midwest and Florida

Jul. 1, 2025
Weather News

Girl, 8, rescued after 7 hours in flooded sewer in China

Jun. 27, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Severe Weather

Severe storms, flash flooding to bring July 4 holiday travel hassles

4 hours ago

Weather News

Storm chaser stages whirlwind proposal with real tornado

6 hours ago

Weather News

Tropical trouble could stir near Southeast beaches around 4th of July

4 hours ago

Astronomy

July offers rare meteor shower combo, stunning views of the Milky Way

5 days ago

Weather News

Flights cancelled as Atlanta airport recovers from severe weather

2 days ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Travel

Fourth of July gas hasn’t been this cheap since 2021

8 hours ago

Recreation

Two people rescued after going overboard on Disney cruise ship

9 hours ago

Weather News

Fossil reveals ‘Last of Us’-type fungus likely lived with dinosaurs

6 days ago

Health

'Inverse' vaccines may hold key to challenge autoimmune diseases

1 day ago

Weather News

World’s most liveable city for 2025 revealed

1 week ago

AccuWeather Weather News What are pyrocumulus clouds?
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...