Stunning images emerge out of weather photo contest

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the winners of their Weather in Focus Photo Contest, which recognizes photographers who have captured incredible images of weather and climate.

"From rainbows and sunsets to lightning and tornadoes, the winning photos aren't just captivating to look at, but inspire us to look at the world in different ways," said Douglas Hilderbrand, contest judge and Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Lead. "It was difficult to pick winners from so many good entries."

The NOAA selected winners in the four categories from more than 2,000 submitted entries between Jan. 1 and March 31 of this year.

Science in Action

First place: "Green Bank Telescope in WV" by Mike Zorger, Falls Church, Va.

Second place: "Photographer captures the aurora" by Christopher Morse, Fairbanks, Alaska

Third place: "Atmospheric Research Observatory" by Joseph Phillips, Boulder, Colo.

Honorable mention: "Atmospheric Research Observatory" by Joseph Phillips, Boulder, Colo.

Weather, Water & Climate

First place: "Snow Express" by Conrad Stenftenagel, Saint Anthony, Ind.

Second place: "Proton arc over Lake Superior" by Ken William, Clio, Mich.

Third place: "Storm over Prescott" by Mike Whitlow, Prescott, Ariz.

Honorable mention: "Raindrops on a leaf" by Alana Peterson, Maple Lake, Minn.

Honorable mention: "Fire in the Sky over Glacier National Park" by Sashikanth Chintla, North Brunswick, N.J.

In the iMoment

First place: "Smoky Mountains" by Elijah Burris, Canton, N.C.

Second place: "Spring Captured: Freezing rain attempts to halt spring" by Mike Shelby, Elkridge, Md.

Third place: "Rolling clouds in Lake Tahoe" by Christopher LeBoa, San Leandro, Calf.

Professional Submissions

First place: "Stars behind the storm" by Brad Goddard, Orion, Ill.

Second place: "A tornado churns up dust in sunset light near Traer, IA" by Brad Goddard, Orion, Ill.

Third place: "A tornado crosses the path, Reinbeck, IA" by Brad Goddard, Orion, Ill.

Honorable mention: "Fog rolls in from the ocean on a hot summer day, Belmar, N.J." by Robert Raia, Toms River, N.J.

Photographer Brad Goddard had a notable victory, winning first, second and third place in the professional category.

The contest was sponsored by NOAA's National Weather Service, NOAA Preserve America Initiative and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.