France's Historic Wildfire Forms First-ever Pyrocumulonimbus Cloud
WHO:
PBS - French officials reported on the wildfire and its effects.
Wired - Theodore M. Giannaros, a fire meteorologist at the National Observatory of Athens, provided insights on the phenomenon.
WHAT:
PBS - The pyrocumulonimbus cloud weakened overnight as humidity rose, then formed again several times.
Wired - Canada produced a record 142 pyrocumulonimbus clouds in 2023.
Wired - Portugal recorded one pyrocumulonimbus cloud during its deadly 2017 fire season.
PBS - A wildfire in southwest France created the country's first recorded pyrocumulonimbus cloud.
PBS - The wildfire has burned more than 420 square kilometers (162 square miles) of forests and scrubland.
PBS - The blaze has damaged or destroyed more than 240 homes.
PBS - The wildfire forced 220,000 people to evacuate in Gironde.
PBS - The pyrocumulonimbus cloud generated lightning that ignited new fires beyond the original blaze.
WHERE:
PBS - The wildfire erupted near Saumos, in southwest France.
PBS - The evacuations occurred in Gironde, France.
WHEN:
PBS - The wildfire began on July 22.
PBS - The pyrocumulonimbus cloud was generated at about 6:20 p.m. two days after the fire began.
WHY:
Wired - The continent of Europe is heating faster than any other on Earth, at roughly twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization.
PBS - The extreme fire conditions created unprecedented atmospheric conditions, leading to the formation of the pyrocumulonimbus cloud.
HOW:
Wired - The phenomenon of pyrocumulonimbus clouds has been essentially an Australian and North American phenomenon until now.
PBS - The pyrocumulonimbus cloud formed due to heat and smoke rising rapidly from the flames, creating a storm-like cloud.
PBS - The cloud produced violent, erratic winds that could drive the flames in new directions.
PBS - The phenomenon is characterized by a feedback loop where the cloud influences the fire's behavior.
(UPDATED July 28, 2026 06:47 UTC)
Canada has set a new record by producing 142 pyrocumulonimbus clouds in 2023, a phenomenon that has primarily been observed in Australia and North America until now. Meanwhile, Europe is experiencing significant climate changes, heating at roughly twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization. In related weather developments, a pyrocumulonimbus cloud weakened overnight as humidity levels rose, only to reform several times throughout the day.
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(UPDATED July 28, 2026 05:57 UTC)
A devastating wildfire near Saumos in southwest France has created the country's first recorded pyrocumulonimbus cloud, which formed due to extreme heat and smoke rising rapidly from the flames. The blaze has scorched over 420 square kilometers of land, damaged or destroyed more than 240 homes, and forced 220,000 people to evacuate in Gironde, with the pyrocumulonimbus cloud generating lightning that ignited new fires. Fire meteorologist Theodore M. Giannaros explained that this phenomenon creates a feedback loop, where the cloud influences the fire's behavior, leading to unpredictable and dangerous conditions.