Oinói Wildfire Generates Its Own Weather, METEO Reports

A wildfire burning in the Oinói area of Attica has exhibited temporary pyrogenic behavior, meaning the fire is creating its own local weather. The METEO/National Observatory of Athens documented the phenomenon with video footage and a short timeline from its Penteli observation unit.

Scientists explained that intense heat from the burning vegetation fuels strong upward air currents, producing characteristic pyrocumulus clouds at the top of the fire‑generated smoke column. Current atmospheric conditions—dry air near the ground, moisture higher aloft, and low wind shear—are favorable for this type of fire‑induced cloud formation.

The METEO team noted that the appearance of these white clouds often signals extreme fire activity and highlighted the specific atmospheric layers that support their development.