Fires possibly controlling the weather in eastern Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Current Oregon wildfires could be controlling the weather in a negative way.

Wildfire-induced thunderstorms are keeping the fire threat high in eastern Oregon. These types of storms are known as pyrocumulus clouds . The National Weather Service explains that, “pyrocumulus clouds form if there is enough moisture and atmospheric instability over the intense heat source.” That’s what’s possible over Oregon’s massive fires. This type of storm development also leads to new wildfires starting and spreading unpredictably.

As the wildfire smoke rises, it cools and condenses the air small amount of moisture found in the air above the fire. This helps build cumulus clouds and eventually cumulonimbus clouds rapidly. These could have the ability to produce some rain, but not enough to extinguish the fire. It poses a bigger threat of starting new fires as lightning can come from these pyrocumulus clouds.

As these storms weaken, gusty winds are produced beneath the dying storm. That can spread and push wildfires in new and unproducible directions. Very little rain associated with these storms doesn’t help to extinguish these massive fires.

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