Lightning and storm clouds at sunset near Bowman, Nebraska, United States

© john finney photography/Getty Image

You can't silence thunder. World Meteorological Day

Today, we celebrate World Meteorological Day, commemorating the founding of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 1950. For the annual event, WMO places emphasis on a different pressing topic each year. The slogan of 2025, 'Closing the early warning gap together,' highlights the importance of timely weather alerts and early action.

Pictured here is the awe-inspiring anvil crawler lightning in Nebraska, a state in the United States renowned for its tornadoes and thunderstorms, typically during spring and summer. Anvil crawlers are tree-like lightning discharges that move horizontally. These lightning bolts illuminate the sky and are a testament to nature's power. Nebraska's unique geography, with its Great Plains and frequent thunderstorms, makes it a hotspot for such phenomena. Thanks to the WMO's advancements in meteorology, we can better predict and respond to these dramatic weather events, safeguarding lives and property.