2024 Weather Photographer of the Year unveiled

The annual competition celebrates the best pictures showcasing the elements and all their ferocity. 

Sponsored by Standard Chartered and led by the Royal Meteorological Society [RMS], this year’s shortlist contained 25 images which needed to be whittled down to the winners. Judges included meteorological experts, members of ITV’s weather team, journalists and professional photographers. 

The public was also offered a chance to vote for a favourite through the RMS website. 

The overall winner was Wang Xin, of Shanghai, China, for Sprites Dancing in the Dark Night, (first pictured below). Then during multiple thunderstorms in the Chongming District, judges praised the shot for the number of sprites captured. 

Elsewhere, Andy Gray of Matlock, UK, was runner up for Hoarfrost Heaven, depicting a spectacular frost over the Derwent Valley in England. And third place went to Jamie Russel, of Isle of Wight, for Evening Shower Over The Needles, which also bagged second place in the public vote. 

Other categories including Smartphone, Young Weather Photographer of the Year, and the all-new Climate Award — photos that depict the environmental crisis or solutions to it. The inaugural award was given to Gerson Turelly o Brazil for ‘Rowing’, a shot depicting the centre of Porto Alegre following the devastating Rio Grande do Sul floods earlier this year. In addition, this won the public vote. 

‘I’m delighted with the variety and quality of this year’s winning photographs which show a real window into the world’s weather and climate, in both its regional differences and its interconnectivity,’ said Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society.

‘From African dust impacting on Athens to tranquil weather over volcanoes, from a sudden local downpour to increased intense rainfall and flooding around the world, we are reminded that climate change is impacting on weather patterns everywhere, and that the global community needs to come together to act now and curb any further temperature rise,’ she continued. 

Take a look at all the winners below.