The tornado-like fire whirls are reportedly formed when intense heat combines with strong winds. Meteorologists described the phenomenon shown in the fire tornado pictures. They detailed them as "rapidly spinning vortices that form when air superheated by an intense wildfire rises rapidly, consolidating low-level spin from winds converging into the fire like a spinning ice skater, pulling its arms inward."
Jim Kramper, a warning coordination meteorologist with the St. Louis office of the National Weather Service told KMOX News that the fire tornadoes are spectacular to see but also very rare. He said, "It's not like it's a weird phenomenon, but I wouldn't say we're going to be seeing these all over the place. But yeah, they can happen."
Fire tornado pictures are rarely taken as the phenomenon doesn't usually last for more than a few seconds. It's a good thing Copelin was quick to take a snapshot of it and shared it with the world.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
