The latest photos to make the shortlist for the Royal Meteorological Society’s Weather Photographer of the Year has been announced. This year the highlights include dramatic storms, frozen and frosty vistas, spectacular sunsets and curious weather phenomena.
Photographers from around the world have been sharing their best weather shots and the stories behind the images, showcasing some rare and spectacular sights.
The competition’s judging panel comprises photography and meteorological experts. They have selected a shortlist from the main and mobile categories, with voting now open to the public to decide their favourite finalist. Winners will be announced on 6 October 2022.
To see the shortlisted images and vote for your favourite, visit rmets.org/wpotyvote
Twinkle twinkle little star
The warm Sun starts to melt through ice crystals that have formed around a tree's branches, in this image taken in Taiwan, January 2021. Photo by Rossi Fang
Sunset
A pagoda reflects the glow of the setting Sun as it breaks through the rain clouds over Myanmar, in May 2022. Photo by Aung Chan Thar
Dreaming of lightning
A full Moon coincides with a spectacular lightning strike at Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona, Spain, in September 2019. Photo by Enric Navarrete Bachs
Departing storm overBembridge Lifeboat Station
This image of a rare double rainbow was taken in the waters by Bembridge, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, as a storm retreated from the island. Photo by Jamie Russell
Dam wet
Water cascades down the dam wall of Wet Sleddale reservoir near the village of Shap, Cumbria, United Kingdom. This image captures the heavy rain and strong winds brought to the UK by Storm Dennis in February 2020. Photo by Andrew McCaren
Scotch mist
An early-morning mist descends over Tarbet, Loch Lomond, Scotland, United Kingdom, in September 2021. Photo by Vince Campbell
Ghost under the cliff
A phenomena known as a 'Brocken Spectre' is seen on a cliff at Tavertet, Barcelona, Spain, in June 2021. A Brocken Spectre is a large shadow of an observer (in this case the photographer) cast onto a cloud or mist. When a person stands on a hill like this one with the Sun behind them, their shadow can be projected down onto the cloud below. Photo by Emili Vilamala Benito
Winter's icy grip
In Kiruna, the northernmost town in Sweden, a beautiful icy pattern appears just before dawn on a frosty window. Photo by Felipe Martin Menzella
Peaceful
This horse farm, located in southern Ontario, Canada, is shown in February 2022, after the area was hit by the worst snowfall in decades. Photo by Zhenhuan Zhou
Frosty winter sunrise over the Gwda River
A frosty and picturesque sunrise over the Gwda River in Pila, Poland. Hoar frost, as shown in this image, is the most common type of frost and occurs on clear winter nights when the surface temperature falls below 0ºC. Photo by Krzysztof Tollas
Storm Eunice
Huge waves rise from the sea at Newhaven during Storm Eunice, in this image from 18 February 2022. The south coast of the United Kingdom received its first ever red weather warning due to the huge storm. Several people died under falling trees and winds reached 197km/h at the Isle of Wight.Photo by Christopher Ison
Rain bubble
Huge bubbles appear as heavyrain falls on the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October 2020. Photo by Betel Tibebu
Circle the wheat
A supercell storm cloud hangs over a field filled with golden wheat in Kansas, USA, June 2022.Supercells are potentially the most dangerous type of convective storm clouds. They tend to produce severe weather, including damaging winds, huge hail, flash flooding and tornadoes. Photo by Laura Hedien
Waterspout in Barcelona
A waterspout coincides with a lightning strike over the early morning skies of Barcelona, Spain, in July 2021. Photo by Carlos Castillejo Balsera
Solar halo making an appearance over Adelaide Island, Antarctica
A Sun halo can be seen over the snow-covered peaks of Adelaide Island, nearRothera Research Station, Antarctica. Halos around the sun or Moon occur when the light is refracted or reflected by ice crystals, normally found in high cirrus or cirrostratus clouds or free-falling ice crystals. Photo by Thomas Chitson
Menacing storm clouds appear over a field of sunflowers, Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia, in July 2020. Photo by Tamás Kusza
Highway to paradise
Two or three times each year, Črni Kal, a small town in Slovenia, experiences a temperature inversion which places fog under the highway bridge, as shown in this stunning image. Photo by Sara Jazbar
In search of water
Periods of extreme heat in India can cause rivers and ponds to completely dry up, leaving humans and animals struggling to find water. Here, children of the village of Purulia, West Bengal, have made deep pits in the dry river in order to collect any water they can find. Photo by Barun Rajgarias
Frozen
Icicles hang off buildings and rocks alike, during freezing temperatures at Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, in January 2018. Photo by Zhenhuan Zhou
Waterlily harvesting
People collect waterlilies in the wetlands of West Bengal, India, to sell at the local market. This image was taken during monsoon season, in August 2020. Photo by Shibasish Saha
Thunder in Chongqing
Lightning strikes light up the sky over the city of Chongqing, China, in April 2022. Photo by Luo Xing
Mock mirage sunset over the estuary
People walk along the famous shingle path on a calm evening in Tankerton, Kent, United Kingdom, as a sunset over the Thames Estuary makes buildings in nearby Southend appear to levitate. Photo by Brendan Conway
James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.
