What are pyrocumulus clouds?
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 (@ReedTimmerAccu) 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?
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 (@ReedTimmerAccu) 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.
(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.
More Weather News
-
Bad news about the US corn crop, according to the latest USDA report
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 5:22:21 PM EDT
The condition of the corn reflects the rainy weather and flooding so rampant for much of the growing season
-
Does 5G expansion threaten weather forecasting, ‘national security’ and the lives of Americans?
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 4:00:12 PM EDT
An intense ongoing debate could have far-reaching, possibly ominous consequences.
-
Democratic debate 2019: It could turn stormy in the debate hall, but what about outside?
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 4:03:47 PM EDT
Will abnormal heat persist or will it turn stormy as candidates, the press corps and spectators converge on Miami for the Democratic Presidential Debates this week?
-
'We got to go to the basement!' Woman terrified as EF2 tornado bore down on her neighborhood
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 1:34:19 PM EDT
Severe weather spread from Texas to Indiana on Sunday, and for one woman, the sight of an approaching twister was cause for serious alarm.
-
AccuWeather forecasts a significant increase in soybean production this week
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 2:21:16 PM EDT
Soybean production could reach as high as 90 percent
-
Japan braces for heavy rainfall this week as tropical threat approaches
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 12:30:28 PM EDT
A tropical disturbance moving across the West Pacific will bring the potential for flooding and other impacts to Japan this week.
-
Heat wave to scorch France as 2019 Women's World Cup continues
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 11:32:08 AM EDT
As the round of 16 continues at the 2019 Women's World Cup, a building heat wave will add another hurdle for the players and teams hoping to lay claim to the title of best in the world.
-
Monsoon brings long-awaited relief to some, millions still parched as rain fails to reach Delhi, northwest India
Weather News - June 24, 2019, 12:38:44 PM EDT
The southwest monsoon made significant progress across India in recent days; however, a change in the weather pattern means millions of people will have to wait several weeks for the monsoon to arrive.
TRENDING NOW
'We got to go to the basement!' Woman terrified as EF2 tornado bore down on her neighborhood
Severe weather spread from Texas to Indiana on Sunday, and for one woman, the sight of an approaching twister was cause for serious alarm.
Read Story
What we can learn from 13 years of lightning fatalities
Lightning Safety Awareness Week has helped to halve the average amount of lightning fatalities each year in the United States -- but people still die as they often don't realize the danger until it is too late.
Read Story
Threat for severe weather to shift into north-central Plains, Midwest
After days of violent thunderstorms brought hundreds of incidents of wind damage to the central and southeastern U.S., the threat for severe weather will finally shift farther north by the middle of this week.
Read Story
Comments
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.