4 ways wildfires generate tornadoes, lightning and other extreme weather, sometimes miles from the flames

A fire whirl, or fire tornado, rises from flames near Wofford Heights, Calif., in August 2021. David McNew/Getty Images Thick smoke from massive wildfires has been spreading in North America and Europe once again in 2026. The health impacts of breathing this particle-filled air are becoming well known, but wildfires’ influence on the weather is less widely recognized. We often think about weather controlling wildfires: Dry air, heat, wind and lightning determine when fires start and how…