There are several notable photographs or videos in the field of meteorology, the study of the Earth's atmosphere, climate, and weather. These images or videos may be referred to as the most important, most iconic, or most influential weather-related photographs or weather-related videos.
The first ever photograph of lightning, taken by William N. Jennings in 1882. This has been described as one of "the most important photos in photography history".[1]
An iconic and widely used photograph that is claimed by the National Weather Service to be the oldest known photograph of a tornado.[2][3] This has been described as one of "the most important photos in photography history".[1]
Migrant Mother is a 1936 photograph taken in Nipomo, California, by American photographer Dorothea Lange. The photo depicts a mother anxiously gazing into the distance, with an infant in her lap and two older children huddling close by. The photo captures the plight of migrant farm workers who arrived in Californiaen masse looking for employment during the Great Depression. Initially anonymous, the woman in the photo was identified as Florence Owens Thompson in 1978, following the work of a journalist for the California-based newspaper The Modesto Bee. The photograph has been widely described as one of the most important and iconic photographs of the 20th century.[5][6][7]
The first hook echo feature ever observed on radar was noted by a radar technician, during a damaging tornado in the Champaign, Illinois, area. Later on, the location of the echo was revealed to correspond with an ongoing tornado; this event led to the creation of a nationwide radar network for the detection of severe weather.[9][10]
This photo depicts survivors of the tornado outside of the Belvidere High School, which sustained a direct hit from the F4 tornado, one of many during the Oak Lawn tornado outbreak. Mike Doyle, author of the book The 1967 Belvidere tornado, described this photo as perhaps the most famous photo in Boone County history and one of the most well-known disaster photos in history.[16]
This film of the F5 Jordan tornado was used by Ted Fujita to further his theory of the satellite tornado; in this case, an intense F3 tornado that surrounded the main tornado throughout much of its life. The film itself earned Barthold a Peabody Award.[20][21]
Merrilee Thomas of Beaver City, Nebraska took this photograph of her daughter Audra Thomas in Furnas County, Nebraska. The photograph won second place in a national Kodak contest, and it was used in numerous exhibitions.[22]
This photograph was taken as the F5 Jarrell tornado was undergoing tornadogenesis, with its multiple-vortex structure being compared to the appearance of the Grim Reaper. The image was part of a sequence taken by Scott Beckwith depicting the tornado's development.[23]
Tammy Holmgren huddled with her two daughters under an overpass as a tornado approached
A photograph of Tammy Holmgren huddled with her two daughters under an overpass as the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado approached. This photograph was taken by Associated Press photographer J. Pat Carter. It was chosen by CNN to be the photographic representation of all tornadic activity in the 1990s.[24][25][26]
A photograph of Hurricane Isabel, taken by astronaut Ed Lu onboard the International Space Station. This photograph has been widely used and has been described as one of "the most iconic hurricane photos of all time".[27]
Hurricane Katrina is a photograph of residents being rescued by helicopter during Hurricane Katrina. This photograph was taken by Agence France-Presse photographer David J. Phillip. Life Magazine considers this to be one of the "most important photos ever".[28]
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation is a photograph of Tanisha Belvin (five-years-old) holding the hand of Nita LaGarde (89-years-old), as they are evacuated from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. This photograph was taken by Associated Press photographer Eric Gay. Esquire considers this to be one of the "world's most remarkable photographs".[29]
A man clings to the top of a vehicle before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard from the flooded streets of New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina is a photograph of a man in New Orleans, clinging to the top of a vehicle, waiting to be rescued by the United States Coast Guard during Hurricane Katrina. The photograph was taken by Reuters photographer Robert Galbraith. Esquire considers this to be one of the "world's most remarkable photographs".[29]
An iconic and widely used photograph of the 2007 Elie tornado, taken by Justin Hobson.[32] Due to the free nature of this photograph, it is often used by news articles not even discussing the 2007 Elie tornado.[33][34]
Faye Hyde's moving photo became the image of April 27, 2011 tornadoes
Clem Schultz recorded three minutes of video footage from the upstairs of his house in Fairdale, Illinois of the violent tornado approaching his community. The footage concludes with the tornado reaching Schultz's location. Clem Schultz was significantly injured in this event, and his wife was killed.[42]
Climate Change is a photograph of a polar bear walking along ice on the ocean. Life Magazine considers this to be one of the "most important photos ever", especially with regards to climate change.[28]
Debris from a home litters a yard the day after a tornado blew it off its foundation in Beauregard, Alabama
A widely used photograph, taken by Associated Press photographer David Goldman, showing the debris from a house that was blown off its foundation and completely destroyed by the Beauregard tornado.[43]The New York Times published that this was one of the top photographs taken during 2019.[44]
Anja Sommerfeld from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research launched an ozone-sonde
A widely used iconic photograph, taken by Associated Press photographer Giorgio Viera, of journalist inspecting the damage from Hurricane Ian. The Straits Times considers this one of the most iconic photographs during 2022.[57]
'Dear, Jesus, please help them' is live coverage from WTVA Chief Meteorologist Matt Laubhan during the 2023 Amory tornado, where Laubhan prayed on live television for the people in Amory, Mississippi.[58][59][60][61]
Lightning strikes as smoke billows following an Israeli bombardment of Gaza City
Oklahoma Town Of Barnsdall Hit By Deadly Tornado is a photograph by Getty Images photographer Brandon Bell, showing a child walking alone through a neighborhood damaged by the 2024 Barnsdall–Bartlesville EF4 tornado. CNN published that this was one of "the most visually powerful and important" photographs during 2024.[65]
An iconic and widely used screengrab taken from the body camera of United States Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Ted Hudson, while he rescued a man and his dog after their sailboat became disabled and started taking on water off Sanibel Island, Florida during Hurricane Helene. CNN published that this was one of "the most visually powerful and important" photographs during 2024.[65]
A widely used photograph, taken by Associated Press photographer Armin Durgut, of mourners gathered at a collective funeral for 19 victims of a landslide caused by floods in Jablanica, Bosnia. TIME Magazine considered this photograph to be one of the top and most important photographs of 2024.[67]
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