Thunder in a wildfire: What is a pyrocumulonimbus cloud?

Helen WillettsLead weather presenter A pyrocumulonimbus cloud as seen over the village of Saumos, France, on Saturday Wildfires are sustained by dry and warm weather with strong winds adding to the danger, moving the fires very quickly. However, wildfires can also create their own winds and weather, like a pyrocumulonimbus cloud which is essentially a thunderstorm created by a very intense wildfire, as seen near Bordeaux. When a large fire burns, it releases huge amounts of heat. This heat make