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Grassfire Spawned Smokedevil

Southern Oklahoma - May 28, 2000

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Returning back to Norman, Oklahoma after several days of chasing in Northern Texas, I spotted this huge grassfire burning off towards the west. The heat from the fire created a strong updraft of rising hot air and there was just enough wind shear at the surface to create a dramatic Smokedevil. It is similar to the dustdevils that are commonly seen forming in the desert on hot, dry summer days but this was caused by the grassfire. It formed a well defined, tight vortex of smoke before dissipating a few minutes later.

I never found out what actually caused the fire in the first place but it came very close to taking out a farmhouse before it burned itself out.