Earth Day photos; severe weather outbreak in the Plains this week

On Earth Day, I like to post a blog celebrating the beauty and diversity of Earth's amazing atmosphere, by featuring some of my favorite wunderphotos posted during the year. This year, my favorite photo was posted by Gary Blevins (Photo5150), who posted "Fire Tornado". The intense heat generated by this forest fire in California formed a strong updraft, and air flowing in from the sides to replace the air sucked out by the updraft created a swirling dust-devil-like "fire tornado". Thanks to all of you who shared your weather experiences through wunderphotos and blogs over the past year! The community of weather appreciators that has emerged here at wunderground.com has been an unexpected and wonderful thing to tune into each day.




And truffula trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new truffula -- treat it with care.
Give it clean water and feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest -- protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back!

--From Dr. Suess' The Lorax

I've linked in a few more of my favorite wunderphotos below. I'll be back with a new blog Tuesday.

Severe weather in the Plains
Tornadoes hit the Texas Panhandle over the weekend, and the Storm Prediction Center has put portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado under their Moderate Risk region for severe weather both Monday and Tuesday. Wunderphotographer Mike Theiss was there to cover the action Sunday, and saw the tornado that caused severe damage in Tulia, Texas. He will be in the Plains chasing tornadoes this week, so be sure to tune into his blog for the latest!

--Jeff Masters