THIS is the incredible image that shows the full force of Storm Eunice as it battered the UK, threatening to swamp the lighthouse at Newhaven earlier this year.

Taken by Christoper Ison, it has just been named the headline winner of the annual Weather Photographer of the Year competition, run by the Royal Meteorological Society in association with AccuWeather. 

Entries flooded in from 119 countries worldwide but it was Christopher’s dramatic picture that wowed the judging panel to scoop top prize.

“When the storm was predicted, and it was carrying the first ever red warning for the south coast, I knew I had to find a spot to record it,” says the photographer. “This was going to be big!

“I got there reasonably early to find many photographers already drenched in rain and seawater, standing very close to the harbour wall. I decided to head to high ground and slightly further away with my back to the weather. I was rewarded with a set of images I’m very proud of.” 

Mammatus Sunset – Eris Pil

The Young Weather Photographer of the Year was Eris Pil from Pennsylvania in the US, who only turned 17 this week. Her picture, titled ‘Mammatus Sunset’ was taken on a Google Pixel 3 phone.

“The sky was completely lit up in a way I’d never seen before, like these beautiful backlit watercolour clouds, displaying these spectacular mammatus clouds overhead,” she says.

“I love mammatus clouds but this was my first time ever witnessing them. I hope I have the opportunity to see them again, and I’m excited to share what they look like with others”.

Departing Storm Over Bembridge Lifeboat Station – Jamie Russell

The Public Favourite, decided by public vote, was a stunning rainbow stretching over Bembridge Lifeboat Station in the UK in the wake of a departing storm, taken by Jamie Russell.

The Isle of Wight lensman had been chasing showers and storms from west to east across the island, and reached Bembridge just as the final shower departed. Desperate to get the shot, Jamie waded into waist-deep water, fully dressed, just to compose the scene!

Sunset: Aung Chan Thar

The Mobile Phone Winner was a beautiful image titled simply ‘Sunset’ by Aung Chan Thar from Myanmar, and was taken as the sun appeared through the clouds and mist after a rainy day.

Lead image: ‘Storm Eunice’ – Christopher Ison. All the winners and finalists can now be seen on the RMetS website: www.rmets.org/photography