Fire tornado caught on film in Brazil, want to make your own? (VIDEO)
| Boston
A rare fire tornado appeared in the Brazilian municipality of Aracatuba on Wednesday, bringing traffic to a halt on a nearby highway and burning thousands of acres.
The vortex of fire resulted from in the region, combined with brush fires and strong, dry winds.
Though a rare phenomenon, the formation of a fire tornado, or , is quite simple.
When there is a warm updraft of air and convergence of fire, say from a wildfire, a vortex of flame can occur. As the heated air from the fire rises, strong air currents cause flame to spin, shaping it into a tornado.
In Colorado last week, a fire tornado that ignited fields in all directions, a Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman said.
But crews in Brazil have contained the fire and may monitor the site of the blaze overnight. "More turbulent weather capable of producing lightning was expected in the region covered in dry, late-summer brush," according to the BLM.
Authorities in Sao Paulo state have also sugar cane field waste, usually done after harvest.
Want to make your own fire tornado?
, whose mission is "" includes Fire Tornadoes as one of its home science experiments.
Yes, adult supervision is required. Even if you're an adult yourself, we might recommend an extra side of adult supervision on this one. Get your fire extinguisher ready.
We won't give away how your homemade fire tornado works here, .
