Utah hit by Rare EF-2 Firenado
A rare and powerful "firenado" tornado fueled by wildfire caused destruction and winds of up to 122 miles per hour in southeastern Utah, but thankfully did not result in any injuries or fatalities.
The National Weather Service confirmed a quite rare and extraordinary weather event that you just don't see every day. In the Deer Creek Fire in southeastern Utah, a fast-moving wildfire generated an EF-2 fire tornado.
This "firenado" produced winds up to 122 miles per hour, carving a path of destruction as it traveled across dry brush and rugged rural terrain.
The wildfire's extreme heat caused air to rise rapidly, creating a strong updraft. As this column of heated air rose vertically, it began to rotate, ultimately forming a vortex similar to what is seen in traditional tornadoes. But rather than being fueled with moisture, it was fueled by fire.
While fire whirls are a somewhat common event, true fire-fueled tornadoes are incredibly rare. Only a handful have ever been documented with this level of size and intensity. The deadliest and largest firenado was the Carr Fire tornado in California back in 2018.
Now, unlike dust devils or whirlwinds, fire tornadoes are capable of causing real damage. Thankfully, this event didn't result in any injuries or fatalities, just additional damage to nearby structures.
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