Triptych from the weather photographer contest showing a glacier calving, lightning striking New York skyscrapers, and a misty temple.

Triple Lightning Bolt Over Manhattan Leads 30 Weather Finalists From 13 Countries

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-11-03

A single exposure captured three lightning bolts striking New York’s skyscrapers. The frame is one of the 30 finalists in the Royal Meteorological Society’s Weather Photographer of the Year, a prominent photo contest, and the public can now vote for its favorite.

How the weather photographer contest finalists were chosen

The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) received more than 5,500 entries for its 11th annual competition. Judges narrowed that field to 30 images.

The RMetS says the panel selected finalists for creativity, meteorological interest, and originality. The shortlist covers clouds, light, storms, and rainbows.

If the storm light over Manhattan has you hooked on sky photography, Infrared Camera Captures Milky Way Over New York shows how night-sky imaging can cut through city glare with striking precision.

Snow-capped peak under a multi-layered lenticular cloud glowing pink and purple at twilight.
A snow-capped mountain peak is topped by a large, multi-layered lenticular cloud glowing in pink and purple twilight hues.

The RMetS describes the shortlisted images as capturing “dramatic conditions across 13 countries.” The set includes mist over Mallorcan hills, crepuscular sunbeams across bridges, and “icy hearts” forming on mountain mesh fences. It also includes double rainbows over the Scottish Highlands.

Person on a rocky peak overlooks a sunlit fjord and distant mountains at sunrise.
A person stands on a rocky mountain peak overlooking a sunlit fjord and distant mountain range at sunrise.
Sunlight streams through clouds above rolling hills partly hidden by thick morning fog.
Sunlight streams through clouds above a landscape of rolling hills partially obscured by a thick layer of morning fog.
Ferry crosses water beneath the Manhattan Bridge, with a hazy smoky skyline beyond.
A ferry travels on the water beneath the Manhattan Bridge, with the Brooklyn Bridge and a hazy, smoke-filled city skyline in the background.
Rainbow arches over a hazy sky above a calm sea dotted with wind turbines.
A vibrant rainbow arches across a hazy sky above a calm sea featuring several offshore wind turbines.
Wire mesh fence coated in jagged rime ice against a clear blue sky.
A close-up view of a metal wire mesh fence covered in thick, jagged rime ice against a clear blue sky.
Heavy storm clouds hang low over a harbor beside a city skyline and small islands.
Dark, heavy storm clouds hang low over a harbor with a city skyline on the left and several small islands in the distance.
Person holds a long tool in a field surrounded by smoke and burning crop residue.
A person stands in a field, holding a long tool while surrounded by thick smoke and flames from burning crop residue.
Glacial lake with floating icebergs in front of a large glacier and snow-capped mountains.
A glacial lake with floating icebergs sits in front of a large glacier and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.
Reflection of a person holding an umbrella in a rain-rippled puddle on the ground.
The reflection of a person holding an umbrella is visible in a rain-rippled puddle on the ground.
Lightning strikes the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center at dusk.
Lightning strikes the tops of the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center behind the Statue of Liberty at dusk.

Weather as a record of climate change

Several finalists document environmental damage through weather photography. One image shows agricultural land in Iran destroyed by heat wave-driven fires. Another shows the aftermath of a wildfire in the Scottish Cairngorms. A Patagonian photograph records collapsing glacial ice, and a Bangladeshi image shows densely populated communities submerged by floodwaters.

Long wooden bridge stretches across calm water at sunset, with silhouettes of people walking.
A long wooden bridge stretches across a calm body of water at sunset, with silhouettes of people walking across it.

Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the RMetS, says the competition shows “just how powerful photography can be in connecting people with weather and our changing climate.” She adds that the images “serve as a critical reminder of the impacts of climate change.”

Large pine tree stands amid a fire-scorched landscape, with exposed roots in blackened soil.
A large pine tree stands in the center of a landscape scorched by fire, with exposed roots visible in the blackened soil.

The glacier and flood images in this shortlist connect to a harder story: Drone Footage of Himalayan Glacier Collapse shows how ice loss can trigger deadly mudslides.

Noctilucent clouds with wavy blue and golden patterns stretch above a dark mountain silhouette.
Noctilucent clouds with wavy, iridescent blue and golden patterns stretch across the sky above a dark mountain silhouette.
Fog spills over rocky sea cliffs at sunset in a long-exposure view.
A long-exposure view of a rocky coastline where a thick layer of fog cascades over the cliffs into the sea at sunset.
Full-arch rainbow spans a grassy mountain ridge under a cloudy sky.
A vibrant, full-arch rainbow spans across a grassy mountain ridge under a cloudy sky.
Golden pagoda rises above a misty forest at sunrise, with light rays filtering through trees.
A golden pagoda rises above a dense, misty forest landscape at sunrise, with light rays filtering through the trees.
Church beside a reservoir with cracked dry earth and a rocky cliff behind.
A church stands near the edge of a reservoir with cracked, dry earth in the foreground and a large, rocky cliff behind it.
Aerial view of a village partly submerged in floodwater, with small boats between houses.
An aerial view shows a village partially submerged in floodwaters, with houses featuring corrugated metal roofs surrounded by water and small boats navigating between them.
Sunrise lights rolling hills under thick morning mist, with trees silhouetted against the sky.
A sunrise illuminates rolling hills covered in thick morning mist, with scattered trees silhouetted against the glowing sky.
Supercell thunderstorm with multiple lightning strikes over a rural road at dusk.
A supercell thunderstorm with multiple lightning strikes illuminates a dark, swirling sky over a rural road at dusk.

Public voting and winners

Readers can vote for their favorite shortlisted photo in this competition until 23:59 GMT on November 5. The votes decide the “Public Favorite.” A separate jury will choose the overall and category winners.

Red and white ferry crosses calm water in front of a large, mist-covered mountain slope.
A red and white ferry travels across a calm body of water in front of a large, mist-covered mountain slope.

The RMetS will announce all winners on November 17.

Long bridge curves across a calm golden sea under light breaking through clouds.
A long bridge curves across a calm, golden sea under a dramatic, sunlit sky with rays of light breaking through clouds.
Storm front with dark swirling clouds hangs over a calm ocean at sunset.
A dramatic storm front with dark, swirling clouds hangs over a calm ocean, illuminated by a golden sunset on the horizon.
Large jagged iceberg floats in calm, reflective water under a pastel sunset sky.
A large, jagged iceberg floats in calm, reflective water under a soft, pastel-colored sunset sky.
Aerial view of a crescent-shaped island packed with small buildings and trees, surrounded by water.
An aerial view of a crescent-shaped island settlement densely packed with small buildings and trees, surrounded by a large body of water.
Rainbow arches over a calm lake with green mountains and a few small boats.
A vibrant rainbow arches over a calm lake, with green mountains in the background and a few small boats floating on the water.
Bright blue iceberg calves from a glacier, splashing into water beside dark rock.
A large, bright blue iceberg calves from a glacier into the water, creating a large splash against a dark, rocky cliff.
Dark tornado descends from a storm cloud over a dirt road in a grassy field.
A large, dark tornado descends from a heavy storm cloud over a dirt road in a grassy field.
Triptych from the weather photographer contest showing a glacier calving, lightning striking New York skyscrapers, and a misty temple.
A triptych showing a glacier calving into water, lightning striking New York City skyscrapers, and a misty temple landscape.

Source: petapixel.com

Frequently asked questions

How many entries did the Weather Photographer of the Year competition receive?

The Royal Meteorological Society received more than 5,500 entries for its 11th annual competition. Judges then narrowed that field down to 30 finalist images.

What criteria did judges use to select the finalists?

The Royal Meteorological Society says the panel selected finalists for creativity, meteorological interest, and originality. The shortlist covers subjects such as clouds, light, storms, and rainbows.

How can readers vote for the Public Favorite photo?

Readers can vote for their favorite shortlisted photo until 23:59 GMT on November 5. The votes decide the “Public Favorite” award, while a separate jury chooses the overall and category winners.

When will the Weather Photographer of the Year winners be announced?

The Royal Meteorological Society will announce all winners on November 17. This includes the overall and category winners chosen by a separate jury.

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