How Storms Can Both Help And Hinder Wyoming Wildfire Efforts

Common sense would make you think that when you have a thunderstorm roll through an area that's experiencing a wildfire, it would be a good thing.

Thunderstorms bring rain.

Rain is water.

Water will put out fire.

Simple, right?

Not necessarily, because thunderstorms bring lightning and winds, which pose a risk of lightning strikes starting new fires and the high wind gusts spreading fire.

Meteorologist Chip Redmond explains in this video from the Red Canyon Fire Information Facebook page.

Does rain help extinguish a wildfire?

That's a good question, and the answer the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) offers is this:

The moisture from the rain can reduce the intensity of the fire by wetting any existing fire fuel, such as trees and plants. This makes it harder for the fire to spread and can help firefighters in their efforts to control and extinguish the flames. However, the effectiveness of rain in extinguishing a fire depends on various factors, such as the intensity of the fire, the type of vegetation, and the duration and amount of rainfall. While rain can be beneficial, it may not completely extinguish a large or intense forest fire on its own.

Even though the thunderstorms that bring heavy rain may not be as helpful as you'd think in extinguishing the fire, it is useful in other ways during the wildfire. The rain can help reduce smoke in the air, raise the air quality, and increase visibility.

Usually, when rain moves into an area, it brings cooler temperatures and higher humidity, which are both critical to helping fire crews who are fighting fires.

Scientists from the U.S. National Science Foundation feel that with more wildfires burning, the smoke may be affecting the way rain droplets form inside the clouds, keeping the rain from falling. In turn, no rain means dry conditions and more fires.