Capturing the Storm

A‍ striking photograph⁣ of a shelf cloud over Beerze, in the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, has been selected as the winning entry in the Buienradar weather photo competition.‍ Meteorologist Amara Onwuka described the ⁤cloud formation as a “shelf cloud,” a type of thundercloud⁣ frequently⁤ enough preceding a shower,according to Buienradar.

Why This Photo Stood Out

Onwuka praised the ‍winning photo’s composition and clarity, noting ⁤how it‍ vividly depicted the approaching storm and the surrounding landscape. She stated the image captured “very special weather; a huge shelf cloud approaching, in a menacing manner in the dark,” complemented by the natural foreground.

The winning image was ⁣chosen from a selection of twelve finalists. While ⁤only one photo ‍received the top prize, Onwuka highlighted the overall quality of the submissions and the public’s engagement with the competition.

A Popular Bridge Photo and Future of ⁢the Competition

A photograph of a bridge in‍ Nijmegen, taken by Paul Beckers, also garnered significant attention, even appearing in a⁤ local newspaper. Onwuka noted the public’s enthusiastic response ⁢to the images, demonstrating a widespread interest in weather photography.

Buienradar ⁢is evolving the⁢ competition format. This year marked the last time meteorologists made the final selection; future winners will be determined entirely by public vote. The process will involve daily‍ selection of the two best weather photos by meteorologists, followed by a weekly and monthly voting process, culminating in the annual ‍weather photo of the year award.

celebrating Weather Photographers

Onwuka emphasized the dedication of photographers who capture thes images, acknowledging the effort required to obtain a compelling weather photograph. She expressed a desire to provide more recognition to these photographers ‍throughout the year, noting that “photographers get⁣ up before ⁤dawn to ⁤take photos” ⁤and that it’s “not ⁢always easy to take a good weather photo.”