Firenado Captured with Saturday’s Fire in Bunceton

A firenado forms with very hot temperatures. The heat creates low pressure, and induces the rising of air. This is similar to an updraft in a thunderstorm. The rising of air can spin and creates a whirlwind. Important to note though, a firenado is much different than a real tornado. An actual tornado descends from several ingredients; wind shear, moisture, and lift. These create the conditions possible for severe thunderstorms that descend from a cumulonimbus cloud. A funnel cloud must be present. When the spin aloft comes in contact with the ground, and there is visible debris spinning at the surface, it’s then a tornado is confirmed. Video of the firenado in Bunceton can be found on our Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/ABC17News?ref=hl.

-Meteorologist Brittany Beggs