"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
Storms Zero In on the Lone Star State Today

Storms Zero In on the Lone Star State Today

Severe OutlooksTexas has been active today, w

11 May 2026 1:55 AM
Warm Week in Store Out West

Warm Week in Store Out West

WEST - Denver received 5.8" of snowfall from

11 May 2026 1:45 AM
More Storms Move Through the Southeast

More Storms Move Through the Southeast

A widespread stretch of wet weather is contin

11 May 2026 1:40 AM
The Countdown to Hurricane Season

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, wa

11 May 2026 1:00 AM
Tornadoes Cause Damage in Mississippi, Strong Storms Linger in the South

Tornadoes Cause Damage in Mississippi, Strong Storms Linger in the South

WednesdayA cyclic supercell produced a damagi

9 May 2026 2:15 AM
CO May Snowstorm Could Lead to Icy Thursday Roads

CO May Snowstorm Could Lead to Icy Thursday Roads

Parts of Colorado and Wyoming received up to

7 May 2026 1:50 AM
Northeast in for Some Heavy Rain

Northeast in for Some Heavy Rain

WHAT TO EXPECTThe Northeast is forecast to ge

6 May 2026 11:00 AM