Outdoors

Breathtaking Photographs of Storms

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These pictures of storms around the world are incredible. Click on an image for a bigger picture.

Photo via Flickr.
Photo via Flickr.
Waterspouts are tornadoes that only touch down on the water. While they are still super dangerous and should not be approached in a boat, they are much safer than tornados on land because of the lack of debris. Photo via Matador Network.
Waterspouts are tornadoes that only touch down on the water. While they are still super dangerous and should not be approached in a boat, they are much safer than tornados on land because of the lack of debris. Photo via Matador Network.
Lightning in South Dakota.
Volcano lightning, or “dirty thunderstorms,” occur when volcanic ash, ice particles, and rocks collide in a volcanic plume, causing static and, eventually, lightning. This photo was taken during the 2010 eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. Photo via Volcano World.
Volcano lightning, or “dirty thunderstorms,” occur when volcanic ash, ice particles, and rocks collide in a volcanic plume, causing static and, eventually, lightning. This photo was taken during the 2010 eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. Photo via Volcano World.
Tornadoes (like this one in Anadarko, Oklahoma), are usually around 250 feet across, but the truly massive ones can be as much as two miles across. Photo via Wikimedia.
Tornadoes (like this one in Anadarko, Oklahoma), are usually around 250 feet across, but the truly massive ones can be as much as two miles across. Photo via Wikimedia.
Tornadoes are only considered tornadoes if they are in contact with both the cloud and the ground. Until they touch down, they can be considered cyclones or funnel clouds.
Tornadoes are only considered tornadoes if they are in contact with both the cloud and the ground. Until they touch down, they can be considered cyclones or funnel clouds.
The debris of the tornado is in part what makes it so dangerous. Photo via The Weather Channel.
The debris of the tornado is in part what makes it so dangerous. Photo via The Weather Channel.
This photo was taken by a storm-chaser photographer as part of a series set in the USA’s infamous Tornado Alley.
This photo was taken by a storm-chaser photographer as part of a series set in the USA’s infamous Tornado Alley.
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This photo was one of many taken during a storm that rolled in over Sydney in March 2014. Photo via Instagram, bambilegit.
This photo was one of many taken during a storm that rolled in over Sydney in March 2014. Photo via Instagram, bambilegit.
This massive supercell was captured on film in 2009 by professional stormchaser Mike Hollingshead.
This massive supercell was captured on film in 2009 by professional stormchaser Mike Hollingshead.
This supercell happened in May of 2004.
This supercell happened in May of 2004.
Photo via The Weather Channel.
Photo via The Weather Channel.
“Tornado Alley” in the United States, which also sees the most supercells and severe storms, is actually a pretty wide alley. It covers most of the land between the Rockies and the Appalachian Mountains. Photo via Flickr.
“Tornado Alley” in the United States, which also sees the most supercells and severe storms, is actually a pretty wide alley. It covers most of the land between the Rockies and the Appalachian Mountains. Photo via Flickr.
These are mammatus clouds. Pretty crazy. Photo via Matador Network.
These are mammatus clouds. Pretty crazy. Photo via Matador Network.
A massive storm battered the southern United Kingdom back in October of 2013. Photo via Daily Mail.
A massive storm battered the southern United Kingdom back in October of 2013. Photo via Daily Mail.
Photo via deviantart.
Photo via deviantart.
This storm is called a “supercell,” which refers to thunderstorms with a rotating updraft. They are by far the most severe (and most rare) type of thunderstorm. Photo via Matador Network.
This storm is called a “supercell,” which refers to thunderstorms with a rotating updraft. They are by far the most severe (and most rare) type of thunderstorm. Photo via Matador Network.
Mammatus clouds are usually found at the base of a anvil cloud, and are a sign of oncoming massive thunderstorms. They also look really cool.
Mammatus clouds are usually found at the base of a anvil cloud, and are a sign of oncoming massive thunderstorms. They also look really cool.
Photo via The Weather Channel.
Photo via The Weather Channel.
Lightning over Munich
This picture was taken using a 25-second shutter speed in the Grand Canyon by photographer Rolf Maeder. Photo via Esquire.
This picture was taken using a 25-second shutter speed in the Grand Canyon by photographer Rolf Maeder. Photo via Esquire.
Most skyscrapers are hit by lightning relatively frequently. The Empire State Building (not pictured here, this is the Willis Tower) is hit an average of 25 times a year.
Most skyscrapers are hit by lightning relatively frequently. The Empire State Building (not pictured here, this is the Willis Tower) is hit an average of 25 times a year.
This is another image of the Phoenix haboob, taken from an plane. Photo via Flickr.
This is another image of the Phoenix haboob, taken from an plane. Photo via Flickr.
“Haboobs” are massive dust storms. This one famously hit Phoenix in 2011. Photo via Flickr.
“Haboobs” are massive dust storms. This one famously hit Phoenix in 2011. Photo via Flickr.
This shot of a haboob was taken in Broken Hill, New South Wales, back in 2010. Photo via Flickr.
This shot of a haboob was taken in Broken Hill, New South Wales, back in 2010. Photo via Flickr.
Pre-storm clouds in Hong Kong
A massive cumulonimbus in the distance. Awesome picture. Photo via Matador Network.
A massive cumulonimbus in the distance. Awesome picture. Photo via Matador Network.
Photo via Flickr, Anthony Quintano.
Photo via Flickr, Anthony Quintano.

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