California’s wildfires are creating giant lightning-filled volcanic eruption clouds in California

By Strange Sounds –

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A flammagenitus is a dense cumuliform cloud associated with fire or volcanic eruptions. VK

California is burning like hell right now.

And the fires are more visually menacing than usual, thanks to the rare pyrocumulus clouds the flames are creating.

california fire, california fire clouds, california fire clouds look like volcanic eruption, california fire pyrocumulus cloud
A pyrocumulus cloud is produced by the intense heating of the air from the surface. VK

The fires are burning so hot that they’re making their own pyrocumulus cloud systems, each up to five miles high. These clouds are also making firefighting efforts more difficult. 

california fire, california fire clouds, california fire clouds look like volcanic eruption, california fire pyrocumulus cloud
The intense heat induces convection, which causes the air mass to rise to a point of stability, usually in the presence of moisture, causing apocalyptic clouds raising high in the atmosphere. VK

And more frightening, these clouds look like there was a giant volcanic eruption somewhere in the Golden State – and there are plenty of dangerous volcanoes around: Medicine Lake Volcano, Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic Center, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, Long Valley Volcanic Region, Coso Volcanic Field, Hubehebe Craters, and Salton Buttes.

California volcanoes map
California volcanoes map. USGS

Formation of pyromuculus clouds

Normal clouds are formed when the sun heats the earth’s surface, causing water to evaporate and rise into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses into a cloud.

This is a relatively slow process compared to the formation of a pyrocumulus cloud, where the intense heat of a huge wildfire burns the moisture out of the vegetation. This moisture then accumulates on smoke particles and rapidly condenses as it rises. 

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A large fire cloud may also produce lightning. VK

Pyrocumulus clouds are more commonly seen above volcanic eruptions, which produce lots of steam. If you’ve ever seen an evil-looking cloud creating dry lightning above a volcano, that’s a pyrocumulus cloud. They’re colored black or dark brown by the volcanic ash, whereas ones created by wildfires are usually dark gray, due to the smoke and ash.

california fire, california fire clouds, california fire clouds look like volcanic eruption, california fire pyrocumulus cloud
A flammagenitus that produces lightning is actually a type of cumulonimbus, a thundercloud, and is called cumulonimbus flammagenitus. VK

The speed with which pyrocumulus clouds form and change, combined with the heat of the fire, can lead to quick, massive temperature swings in the atmosphere, producing unpredictable and severe winds.

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A flammagenitus cloud can help or hinder a fire. Sometimes, the moisture from the air condenses in the cloud and then falls as rain, often extinguishing the fire. VK

These can exacerbate the intensity of wildfires, and cause them to move or otherwise behave in unpredictable ways. And that all can put the lives of firefighters and the public at risk. 

california fire, california fire clouds, california fire clouds look like volcanic eruption, california fire pyrocumulus cloud
However, if the fire is large enough, then the cloud may continue to grow, and become a type of cumulonimbus cloud known as a cumulonimbus flammagenitus, which may produce lightning and start another fire. VK

Sometimes, very rarely, pyromuculus clouds contain enough moisture that they produce heavy rain, potentially helping extinguish the fires that created them. Sadly, that does not appear to be happening this time as California is in the middle of an intense heatwave. 

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