2020 has been a hell of a year. Not only have we had to deal with a global pandemic but we’ve also seen the rise of Murder Hornets and other bizarre phenomena.
For those keeping track, you can now add fire tornadoes to your 2020 apocalypse bingo card.
Via KOLO TV
The U.S. National Weather Service in Reno has issued a tornado warning for Lassen County.
The warning is in effect until 3:30 p.m.
The tornado potential is in southeastern Lassen County.
The pyrocumulonimbus clouds from the Loyalton Wildfire could produce a fire-induced tornado and outflow winds faster than 60 mph were located south of Chilcoot, and it is nearly stationary, the weather service said.
For the first time in history, a tornado warning has been issued for a likely *fire tornado*.
These are not "firewhirls." This is a rotating smoke plume being ingested into a pyrocumulonimbus cloud that could produce a bonafide fire-induced tornado.
Tornadic wind speeds. pic.twitter.com/KwtAMv3qVp
— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) August 15, 2020
Extremely dangerous fire behavior noted on the #LoyaltonFire! Rotating columns and potential for fire whirls. Responders should exercise extreme caution!!! https://t.co/DYghar7yiz
— NWS Reno (@NWSReno) August 15, 2020
Update: There appears to be fooatage of the fire tornado in the area.
https://twitter.com/That1GirlTasha/status/1294790322749190144
image of the fire tornado in Lassen Co., CA today. divine. gorgeous. unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/jr9zj89tTh
— Morgan J. Fuld (@mjfuld54) August 16, 2020