Images of enormous, cauliflower-shaped clouds are emerging on social media feeds in the Vancouver region, which experts identify as pyrocumulus clouds created by a wildfire situated over 200 kilometers away.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Anderson Creek fire was detected by aircraft responding to another nearby blaze on Tuesday and rapidly intensified, driven by strong winds.
Matt Loney, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, notes that intense heat generated by each fire contributes to their development, and the Anderson Creek fire appears to have “really taken off.”
Photos shared on social media on Tuesday depict large cumulus clouds looming over darker smoke plumes, with some images captured as far away as Coquitlam, approximately 220 kilometers distant.
Loney explains that any sufficiently hot source capable of creating strong convection currents will lead to the formation of these clouds, which occur as hot air rises rapidly and moisture condenses.
He uses an analogy of opening a freezer door on a hot summer day, where fog spills out towards the ground.
“Basic science indicates that heat rises in the atmosphere, while cold air descends,” Loney stated.
“The heat moves upward as it seeks stability due to its lower density.”
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Loney adds that these clouds contain various particulates, including burning embers, dust, and ashes.
“All these elements are visible to the naked eye, and once the cloud reaches a temperature sufficient to prevent further ascent, it will spread out horizontally,” Loney explained.
Environment Canada’s Matt Loney says anything hot enough to produce strong convection currents will give rise to the clouds, which are produced by hot air rising quickly as the moisture condenses. (Submitted by @Brad604/X)
The natural occurrence linked to the fire near Boston Bar not only highlights the level of heat involved but also reflects the atmospheric instability, as the cloud developed vertically instead of horizontally, making it visible from various angles, according to Loney.
Rachel White, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of British Columbia, describes the cloud images from the Fraser Canyon as both awe-inspiring and alarming.
White mentions that while she has not witnessed these pyrocumulus clouds, she would be keen to study one from a scientific perspective.
“It would certainly be quite an intense and frightening experience to witness the sheer power of these wildfires,” White remarked.
She highlights a striking fact that these clouds can generate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, which could potentially ignite additional wildfires.
“This presents a particularly hazardous aspect. However, whether a cloud system will [produce lightning] relies heavily on the specific conditions in that region,” she concluded.
