A rare “pyrocumulonimbus” cloud formed in northern Texas Friday and the thunderstorm then proceeded ending up being severe and even dropping hail! All of this happening from an ongoing wildfire!
The Mallard Fire had burned about 35,000 acres Friday east of Amarillo, Texas. Then, an approaching front called a ‘dry line’ approached and helped boost temperatures close to 100 degrees while bringing in 40 mile per hour wind gusts! At the same time, conditions became favorable for this cloud to form from off the wildfire!
Wondering how it forms? Here’s an explanation:
Whipping out the markers for the #pyrocb explanation! @WeatherNation pic.twitter.com/1JNzv7ttVx
— Steve Glazier (@SteveGlazier) May 12, 2018
This type of cloud is referred to as a “cumulus flammagenitus.”
Here’s the definition from the World Meteorological Organization:
“Clouds may develop as a consequence of convection initiated by heat from forest fires, wildfires or volcanic eruption activity. Clouds that are clearly observed to have originated as a consequence of localized natural heat sources, such as forest fires, wildfires or volcanic activity and which, at least in part, consist of water drops, will be given the name relevant to the genus followed, if appropriate, by the species, variety and any supplementary features, and finally by the special cloud name “flammagenitus.”
Courtesy the WMO: https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/flammagenitus.html
You could really visually see this from space on Friday. Check it out!
WOAH! Here's the view from above the #MallardFire as it helped form this thunderstorm downwind of it in northern Texas #TXwx pic.twitter.com/UJq4fOQblm
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) May 11, 2018
Have questions about the weather? Drop us a note on social media!
For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier
Tweets
Take a break and enjoy this stunning timelapse from New York :) https://t.co/n4adVXSruH
More postseason baseball ahead today in Houston and Los Angeles. The forecasts: https://t.co/OEyr0gJA5J https://t.co/66oUfUT3bm
During Hurricane Michael, NOAA used unmanned aircraft to measure wind speeds to improve forecasts:… https://t.co/886oNinXHz
1 hour ago by WeatherNationCHECK THIS OUT: @NASAEarth satellites captured the impacts of #HurricaneMichael's strong winds and waves on the Gul… https://t.co/aXXMeG2uGe
1 hour ago by WeatherNationAfter measuring ocean winds and then calibrating new satellites for improved sea wind data, QuikSCAT has been offic… https://t.co/X2iRbw0bjg
1 hour ago by WeatherNation🎶Play it cool boy, reeeeeeal cooool... 🎶 Temperatures will bite like a SHARK into the weekend, as the JET brings an… https://t.co/UlpizHG8qb
2 hours ago by WeatherNationGood morning Boston! Cooler temps are heading your way. We have the latest for you right here on @WeatherNation https://t.co/3nkBcTsd7W
A CITY IN RUINS - It was only one week ago that Mexico Beach, Florida had a much different look to it. Officials to… https://t.co/HA11GW7HMl
4 hours ago by WeatherNationMore well below normal high temperatures across the south central U.S. today. #Weather #WeatherNation #TasteOfWinter https://t.co/lDkBGtaWmq
NEW THIS MORNING: Mother Nature showed her mighty hand across the Texas, bringing record rainfall across the Lone S… https://t.co/A7HC6faHiN
5 hours ago by WeatherNationToday's high temperature forecast #Weather #WeatherNation #USA 🇺🇸 https://t.co/EuHkx0umDf
It was a record breaking day in Roseburg, Oregon on Tuesday. #Record #Heat #orwx https://t.co/ZWXaXHj0Va
Some lake effect snow snow showers are possible today for the Northeast. Here is the latest ---> https://t.co/27iHQfprLS
6 hours ago by WeatherNation
For those who wanted the colder weather, here ya go! We'll see another shot of cold air this week and then MORE thi… https://t.co/c1EbqLcwQX
11 hours ago by WeatherNationIt's official....this is the wettest autumn season on #record for #Dallas....and it's only mid-October! Details:… https://t.co/iXdxujDcBy
12 hours ago by WeatherNationFlood waters race towards the Llano Bridge, almost reaching the roadway. If anyone is in this area and comes across… https://t.co/soXefnjujS
12 hours ago by WeatherNationEven for Florida standards this is....really hot. Latest 93°+ on record in Jacksonville, FL on Tuesday! #FLwx https://t.co/DGQFIoxBO4
Still a few more inches of snow possible in New Mexico into Wednesday morning: #NMwx https://t.co/3DNMFlCJvf
With all the scenes of destruction that we've seen out of Florida, it's hard to imagine what it would have been lik… https://t.co/ameoR3vI87
14 hours ago by WeatherNation