"Firenado" in California Last Week Produced 140 mph Winds

news image
Special Stories
2 Aug 2018 11:02 PM
The fire whirl in California Thursday, July 26 has been compared to an EF-3 tornado! https://twitter.com/NWSSacramento/status/1025125984465498112 During the evening of Thursday, July 26 the Carr Fire spread uncontrollably and erratically in Shasta County, California near Redding. A "fire whirl" developed where intense heat from wildfires swirls up whipping winds that looks much like a tornado. The whirl during that Thursday evening had estimated winds of 143 miles per hour!  Compare that wind speed to a tornado and you'll enter the rating of an EF-3! There were reports of many trees uprooted and even the bark of trees being ripped off. Imagine all of this happening within an ongoing wildfire. For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier
All Weather News
More
Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

While the west continues to bake under a reco

26 Mar 2026 3:30 PM
PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Top Image Credit: National Parks ServiceSprin

26 Mar 2026 2:55 PM
Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

It's been unbearably hot across the west for

26 Mar 2026 10:50 AM
More Records Obliterated - Heat Soars into Central U.S.

More Records Obliterated - Heat Soars into Central U.S.

ABOVE - The month of March has been setting r

26 Mar 2026 9:30 AM
Pineapple Express Delivers Another Round of Rain

Pineapple Express Delivers Another Round of Rain

Heavy rainfall from moisture that inundated t

24 Mar 2026 9:45 AM
Powerful Kona Low Devastates Hawaii Over the Weekend

Powerful Kona Low Devastates Hawaii Over the Weekend

After record shattering rain and hurricane fo

23 Mar 2026 4:30 PM
Severe Storm Potential Heads East from the Ohio Valley to the Southeast

Severe Storm Potential Heads East from the Ohio Valley to the Southeast

A series of systems moving across the Norther

23 Mar 2026 2:10 AM