Pyrocumulus Clouds
Smoke and heat from 70-acre "Lost Ridge" wildfire on Sunday generated pyrocumulus clouds above it.
Our much-anticipated camping expedition to Corral Pass near the Norse Peak Wilderness Area (northeast of Mt. Rainier) this weekend was cut short by a 70-acre wildfire about 4 miles north of our campsite. I took this photo minutes after our campground was evacuated (4 of us broke camp in 20 minutes) and we were driving out on Forest Service "road" 7174.
The photo above shows the smoke. Those below show pyrocumulus clouds--a type that forms when warm air from the forest fire rises, expands and cools. The water vapor in the air condenses on the many tiny particles of smoke and soot (condensation nuclei) and creates a cloud or clouds directly above the smoke.
Otherwise, a good time was had by all.
Pyrocumlus clouds forming in the hot, smokey air rising and condensing above the wildfire. Photo b MM Ruth
Pyrocumulus clouds--you can see the olumn of gray wildfire smoke in the center of the clouds. Photo by MM Ruth
This is the sign posted at the trailhead to Greenwater and Echo Lake...and greeted us on our return hike from the lake! The trail was closed, then the campground (Corral Pass) where we were camping was evacuated, then five-mile road to Corral Pass was closed on Monday afternoon. (Photo by MM Ruth)