From whipping winds that fan flames to swirling smoke that obscures visibility, fire weather is a complex phenomenon. In Episode 4 of "Afire," hear from three meteorologists at the intersection of the intricate relationships between fire weather, wind, and smoke.

Brian Potter explains how large-scale atmospheric patterns, like extended dry periods before a wildfire, may contribute to the development of extreme fire events. Natalie Wagenbrenner discusses WindNinja, a high-resolution wind model that simulates local winds in complex terrain. And Scott Goodrick investigates the turbulent dynamics of small‑scale surface fires, as well as superfog—dense smoke-enhanced fog that can severely reduce visibility.

Related Research:

Scientists:

Brian Potter, Research Meteorologist, Seattle, Washington
Natalie Wagenbrenner, Research Meteorologist, Missoula, Montana
Scott Goodrick, Research Meteorologist, Athens, Georgia

Forestcast is an official USDA Forest Service podcast, and is produced by USDA Forest Service Research and Development.

Want more information? Visit us at https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/products/multimedia/forestcast

Questions or ideas for the show? Contact Jon at jonathan.yales@usda.gov

Afire: Fire Weather, Wind & Smoke 58:14 Share

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Afire: Fire Weather, Wind & Smoke