2020 is just not letting up. Over the weekend, a strange phenomenon that’s being referred to as a “firenado” (short for fire tornado) was spotted in Northern California. The rare event was caused by the deadly combination of extreme temperatures, fire, and wind, and it’s part of the larger wildfire that’s burning east of Loyalton. The appearance of this bizarre firenado has even prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning for area residents. Here’s all you need to know about the firenado and ongoing Loyalton wildfire:
As if wildfire season wasn't scary enough, a firenado that was spotted over the weekend has shown us just how crazy it can get. Spawned by the Loyalton Fire in Lassen County, the sighting has triggered an official tornado warning by the National Weather Service.
Fire tornadoes are a rare occurrence, but it's not the first time we've seen it in Northern California. The last firenado (sometimes known as a "fire whirl") was seen during the devastating Carr Fire that took place in July 2018 near Redding.
You may be wondering just how a firenado is even formed. It turns out they are the result of a deadly combination of several factors including high wind, high temperatures, and fire. Officials say this weekend's firenado was the result of high winds colliding with heavy smoke from the Loyalton Fire.
The firenado was spotted on Saturday, August 15th, near the California-Nevada border. It reportedly reached wind gusts of about 60 mph. For comparison, the Carr firenado reached wind gusts of 100 mph.
Now estimated at over 36,295-acres, the Loyalton Fire has already destroyed several homes and buildings. It started just east of Loyalton on Friday and has already prompted mandatory and advisory evacuation orders for many California counties.
As of Monday, only 5% of the wildfire has been contained. With the entire state of California in the middle of an extraordinary heat wave, current weather conditions could lead to even more firenados. Officials will be closely monitoring conditions as temperatures continue to rise.
This bizarre weather phenomenon is a terrifying side effect of the erratic and unpredictable nature of wildfires. Stay up to date on the Loyalton Fire here and stay safe out there. For footage of this weekend's rare firenado, check out the video below from NBC News.
Stay safe out there, Northern California. Wildfire season is always scary, but it’s also a testament to what our communities are capable of when we stick together.
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