A raging wildfire spreading across southern California has sparked its own destructive weather, including thunderstorms that brought a series of devastating lightning bolts, according to weather experts.
As the fire near the San Bernardino National Forest has rapidly grown in size over the weekend and forced thousands to flee their homes, the powerful blaze has created its own tiny weather system hampering efforts to control the inferno.
“The fire itself helped spawn its own thunderstorms,” meteorologist Dave Munyan, of the National Weather Service, told the New York Times.
“Most of the aviation-based fire tactics had to be suspended yesterday due to the lightning.”
The incredible natural phenomenon is called pyrocumulonimbus, which in simpler terms means a fire-generated storm.
The intense heat from the wildfire – which has reportedly burned more than 17,000 acres — rises into the air, and when combined with enough moisture can lead to thunderstorms, Munyan told the Times.
Officials said there were reports of more than 1,100 lighting strikes in the area from the smoke that has formed into thunderstorm clouds, CBS News reported.
The mini weather system can also result in gusty winds that could help spread the fire.
More than 11,000 people have been issued evacuation orders, the Times reported – as more than 35,000 homes and buildings are threatened by the fire.
The so-called Line Fire was originally reported in the area of Baseline Street and Aplin Street last Thursday, but with “critically dry” vegetation and temperatures reaching more than 100 degrees, the inferno quickly grew larger, according to Cal Fire.
More than 600 firefighters are battling the blaze, but so far none of it is contained.
There are no reported fatalities, but three firefighters have been injured so far.
It’s not known what started the wildfire.
With Post wires
