Pyrocumulonimbus clouds spotted over France — wildfires generate their own weather

During efforts to fight massive forest fires in south-western France, firefighters observed pyrocumulonimbus clouds over the burning area for the first time in the country's history. This extremely rare meteorological phenomenon occurs when a fire is so intense that it begins generating its own local weather system. Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are particularly dangerous as they can cause sudden wind direction changes, complicating firefighting operations and endangering crews.