Above, Minnesota.
Severe fire activity today near James Bay in Quebec, unfortunately. https://t.co/WoGHsNCQvT
— Jeff Masters (@DrJeffMasters) July 14, 2023
Below, Chicago.
Midwest on Smoke Alert, Again
Above, Minnesota.
Below, Chicago.
Above, Minnesota.
Below, Chicago.
Out of curiosity, were these fires started by natural means? Is there any evidence for how they started?
all fires start from a spark.
That spark might be lightning – and lightning storms are becoming more common in northern latitudes under climate change.
that spark might be a campfire, a backfiring motor, a cigarette, or an arsonist – there is no shortage of sparks.
What is critical here is that northern Canada had a record hot, dry May and June, making the conditions for wildfires that normally would not happen til July/August, if at all in any given season.
The hot, dry fuel was there. without that, sparks come to nothing.
We expect these conditions to become more common going forward.
“Those fires are VERY HOT! Maybe some pyroCb already….”
“PyroCb” stands for pyrocumulonimbus clouds that can form over wildfires and volcanic eruptions.