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Ideas

Our home for bold arguments and big thinkers.

Sashikanth Chintla/NOAA
Honorable mention: “Fire in the Sky over Glacier National Park” by Sashikanth Chintla, North Brunswick, NJ
EYE FOR A STORM

Photos: Awe-inspiring images of the skies will make you see the weather differently

By Kate Groetzinger

Although this year’s destructive flooding in the south of the United States left many without homes, and record-breaking blizzards in the Northeast have caused entire cities to shut down, extreme weather events can be electrifyingly beautiful. On June 16, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proved it by releasing the stunning results of its first public photo contest. Contenders could only submit photos of the weather and of scientific forecasting tools. The winning photos below will make you rethink the skies and clouds overhead.

Professional Submissions

Brad Goddard/NOAA
First place: “Stars behind the storm” by Brad Goddard, Orion, IL
Brad Goddard/NOAA
Second place: “A tornado churns up dust in sunset light near Traer, IA” by Brad Goddard, Orion, IL
Brad Goddard/NOAA
Third place: “A tornado crosses the path, Reinbeck, IA” by Brad Goddard, Orion, IL

Weather, Water and Climate

Conrad Stenftenagel/NOAA
First place: “Snow Express” by Conrad Stenftenagel, Saint Anthony, IN
Ken William/NOAA
Second place: “Proton arc over Lake Superior” by Ken William, Clio, MI
Bob Larson/NOAA
Third place: “With a Bang” by Bob Larson, Prescott, AZ

Science in Action

Mike Zorger/NOAA
First place: “Green Bank Telescope in WV” by Mike Zorger, Falls Church, VA
Christopher Morse/NOAA
Second place: “Photographer captures the aurora” by Christopher Morse, Fairbanks, AK
Joseph Phillips/NOAA
Third place: “Atmospheric Research Observatory” by Joseph Phillips, Boulder, CO

In the iMoment

Elijah Burris/NOAA
First place: “Smoky Mountains” by Elijah Burris, Canton, NC
Mike Shelby/NOAA
Second place: “Spring Captured: Freezing rain attempts to halt spring” by Mike Shelby, Elkridge, MD
Christopher LeBoa/NOAA
Third place: “Rolling clouds in Lake Tahoe” by Christopher LeBoa, San Leandro, CA