Wildfires continue to plaque western states, many have been started by lightning.  A wildfire or firestorm modifies the wind, produces its own wind and spreads the fire.  The winds also have the capability of creating a cloud that grows aloft, similar to a thunderstorm and are complete with thunder, lightning and heavy rains that do not contribute to extinguishing the fire. Fiery winds from the firestorm can create tornadic swirls, lasting a few minutes and moving in random directions sparking new fires.  If you’ve ever blown on a campfire or charcoal grill to increase the flames the same occurs with a blowup.  This is a wildfire that gains intensity from strong winds that come from the jet-stream or by the wildfire itself.  Closing out the column with a "look-back...
“You kids get out in that yard and pick-up those balls gloves, they’re gonna get waterlogged.” Those were Mom’s instructions at the onset of a shower or thunderstorm. Waterlogged is an old nautical term used when the hold of a ship was so saturated that the vessel was similar to a log and was unmanageable.  With so much baseball in our neighborhood, we were notorious for leaving our gloves, bats and balls scattered over the property. A glove, loaded with rain and left out overnight, was quickly waterlogged. A typical glove, weighing less than a pound, now weighed about three. Putting it in the sun could dry it out and the consequence was not only a sore pitching arm but the other arm holding up the waterlogged glove.