"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
Northwest Storms Bring Snowy, Rainy Weather

Northwest Storms Bring Snowy, Rainy Weather

NORTHWEST - We're in for a stormy and snowy p

5 Dec 2025 12:40 AM
Quick Moving System To Bring More Snow to the Midwest

Quick Moving System To Bring More Snow to the Midwest

As bitterly cold air moves into the Northern

5 Dec 2025 12:30 AM
Arctic Blast to Bring Dangerous Conditions to Millions

Arctic Blast to Bring Dangerous Conditions to Millions

The Northern Tier of the country is no strang

5 Dec 2025 12:10 AM
Snow & Ice Could Slow Down D.C., Parts of the South

Snow & Ice Could Slow Down D.C., Parts of the South

Multiple low-pressure systems moving across t

5 Dec 2025 12:00 AM
More Snowfall for the Colorado Rockies

More Snowfall for the Colorado Rockies

DENVER, CO - Denver has finally seen its firs

4 Dec 2025 11:45 PM
Northern U.S. Bracing for Multiple Clipper Systems this Week

Northern U.S. Bracing for Multiple Clipper Systems this Week

MONTANA - A clipper system has been moving th

4 Dec 2025 2:00 AM
Gulf Low turns Coastal Low as Millions Brace for Plowable Snow

Gulf Low turns Coastal Low as Millions Brace for Plowable Snow

We're hoping many Thanksgiving travelers have

2 Dec 2025 8:50 PM