As superheated smoke rises miles above the flames and into the cool atmosphere, water vapor condenses around the particles of ash to form water droplets. (Yes, water vapor and water droplets are two different things.) As the air keeps rising, those water droplets eventually become ice crystals. At this point, the smoke and water droplets have created a cloud, but unfortunately one that’s unlikely to provide much relief in the form of rain. A 2024 study found the incidence of extreme fires globally more than doubled from 2003 to 2023.