A firenado, like the one photographed above in 2018, was witnessed in California on August 16, 2020 (Credit: Leicestershire Fire And Rescue Service)

North America's relatively calm summer weather ended last week when a powerful derecho swept across the Midwest — from South Dakota to Ohio — on August 10, 2020, and a rare firenado struck Northern California on August 15, 2020. If you are like most people, you have probably never heard of either of the rare natural phenomena. Here is a brief explanation of the incredible extreme weather events.