‘Fire clouds’ springing up around the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon fire is so hot it’s creating its own weather system
- Wildfires in Utah and Arizona, including the Dragon Bravo fire near the Grand Canyon, are generating massive "fire clouds" (pyrocumulus).
- The Dragon Bravo fire is the largest wildfire in the continental US this year, having consumed 111,000 acres and destroyed a historic lodge.
- The anvil-shaped fire clouds, visible for hundreds of miles, can create dangerous downdrafts, spread fires rapidly, and trigger thunderstorms, posing significant risks to firefighters.
- Experts suggest that the increasing frequency of these fire clouds is linked to climate change, which contributes to longer fire seasons, drought conditions, and extreme weather events.
- Extreme temperatures and strong winds are continuing to fuel the blazes, hindering containment efforts and leading to conditions described as "terrible" by Utah's governor.