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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Graig Graziosi

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.

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