Lightning, tornadoes and wild storms: See these incredible weather photos
USA TODAY
Aug. 19, 2025Updated April 2, 2026, 2:37 p.m. ET

A sunset is reflected in the water as an ATV circles a lake in Ocklawaha, Fla. on Jan. 2, 2026.
Sean Dougherty, USA TODAY
Surfers take advantage of the swells coming from Hurricane Erin into Wrightsville Beach around Crystal Pier on Aug. 19, 2025, in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
KEN BLEVINS, STARNEWS Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Waves crash over Newhaven Lighthouse and the breakwater in Newhaven, southern England on Jan. 1, 2025, as weather warnings were put in place for rain, snow and wind across the UK. Adverse weather is set to hit UK New Year festivities, as the organizers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party canceling the event on public safety grounds.
HENRY NICHOLLS, AFP Via Getty Images
A group evade a crashing wave on March 7, 2025 in Tweed Heads, Australia. Australia's east coast, particularly Queensland and northern New South Wales, is bracing for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a rare Category 2 storm that is expected to make landfall between the Gold Coast and southern parts of the Wide Bay region. The cyclone is anticipated to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and severe flooding, with millions of residents preparing for the worst-case scenario. Authorities have issued evacuation orders, distributed sandbags, and shut down airports and public transport in anticipation of the storm's arrival, which could be one of the most significant weather events in the region in decades.
Asanka Ratnayake, Getty Images
A man rides a bicycle with his umbrella during heavy rain on the "Promenade des anglais" on the french riviera city of Nice, south-eastern France, on April 16, 2025.
VALERY HACHE, AFP Via Getty Images
A double rainbow is seen over Fenway Park during the first inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 25, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Winslow Townson, Getty Images
A Virgin Australia Airlines Boeing 737 plane flies past storm clouds as it comes in to land at Sydney International Airport during sunset in Sydney on Aug. 14, 2025.
DAVID GRAY, AFP Via Getty Images
The Sheboygan lighthouse peeks out of a foggy lakefront, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Sheboygan, Wis.
Gary C. Klein, Sheboygan Press Via USA TODAY NETWORK
An evening lightning storm lights up the skies near the Sanibel Causeway in Southwest Florida on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025.
Andrew West, The News-Press Via USA Today Network
Clouds and sunset in Sarasota, Florida, on Aug. 6, 2025.
Mike Lang, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Via USA TODAY Network
Lightning strikes over downtown Phoenix during a monsoon storm on Aug. 13, 2025.
Michael Chow, The Republic Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Lightning strikes over the Dragon Bravo Fire burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on July 15, 2025.
Michael Chow, The Republic Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Hikers reach the summit of Piestewa Peak during sunrise as record-breaking heat of 118 degrees is predicted in Phoenix on July 9, 2025. Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States and the hottest metropolis.
Rob Schumacher, The Republic Via USA TODAY NETWORK
The shoreline reflects a lightning bolt as an afternoon thunderstorm moves over Daytona Beach. The National Lightning Safety Council encourages people to head indoors after hearing the first clap of thunder.
Nigel Cook, USA TODAY NETWORK
Lightning illuminates the skies over Pine Island, Florida on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Recent storms have moved in bringing with them rain and lightning. Photographed from the Sanibel Causeway from a distance.
Andrew West, The News-Press/USA Today Network
There were storms over the ocean over Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday night, May 24, 2025, eerie blue lights could be seen near the shore in Cocoa Beach with lightning lighting the sky behind them. The blue glows turned out to be lights on the mast of a sailboat anchored just offshore, maybe to avoid the storms.
MALCOLM DENEMARK, FLORIDA TODAY Via USA TODAY NETWORK
NHRA top fuel drivers Clay Millican (left) and Tony Stewart race as a dust storm approaches the track during qualifying for the Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Il. On May 16, 2025.
Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
A rainbow forms over blowing dust from a monsoon storm as viewed from Mesa, Ariz. on June 21, 2024.
Michael Chow, The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
The sun rises behind a surfer at JP Luby Beach on Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The national weather service has issued a hurricane watch for the Coastal Bend as Tropical Storm Beryl travels across the Gulf.
Angela Piazza, Caller-Times Via USA TODAY NETWORK
A dust storm moves across the East Valley in Phoenix as a monsoon storm approaches on Aug. 22, 2024.
Michael Chow, The Republic Via USA TODAY NETWORK
The sun rises over the destroyed Fort Myers Beach pier as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. The town is empty as most residents have evacuated.
Andrew West, The News-Press Via USA Today Network
A double rainbow appears over Reno, Nev. on Feb. 4, 2025.
Jason Bean, RGJ Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Michael Hagerty is silhouetted as the sun begins to break through the clouds over West Dennis Beach, Mass. Monday morning, Feb. 10, 2025. Hagerty is from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and West Dennis and was out on the beach cross country skiing on the crunchy snow.
Merrily Cassidy, Cape Cod Times Via USA TODAY NETWORK
High winds blow massive amounts of dirt and sand through the windmills where the Whitewater River flows when there is rain just west of Indian Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025.
Jay Calderon, The Desert Sun Via USA TODAY NETWORK
Sunset blazes over downtown Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes, The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
Olympic athletes train on the Charles River the evening before the start of the Head of the Charles Regatta rowing event, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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