A Tornado Churns Up Dust In Sunset Light Near Traer, Iowa. Second place, “Professional Submission” (Brad Goddard, Courtesy NOAA)

A Tornado Churns Up Dust In Sunset Light Near Traer, Iowa. Second place, “Professional Submission” by Brad Goddard. (Courtesy NOAA)

From tornadoes to hurricanes, the government agency known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories.

NOAA recently held a “Weather in Focus” photography contest recognizing photographers who captured compelling images of weather or the science used to forecast weather, water and climate.

“From rainbows and sunsets to lightning and tornadoes, the winning photos aren’t just captivating to look at, but inspire us to look at the world in different ways,” said contest judge Douglas Hilderbrand in a press release. “It was difficult to pick winners from so many good entries.”

More than 2,000 photos, taken between January 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015, were entered into the contest. There were separate categories for amateur photographers, professional photographers and people who captured images on their mobile devices.

Here’s a sampling of a few of the winners:

With a Bang. Third place, “Weather, Water, and Climate” (Bob Larson, Courtesy NOAA)

With a Bang. Third place, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Bob Larson. (Courtesy NOAA)

A Tornado Crosses the Path, Reinbeck, Iowa. Third place, “Professional Submission” (Brad Goddard, courtesy NOAA)

A Tornado Crosses the Path, Reinbeck, Iowa. Third place, “Professional Submission” by Brad Goddard. (Courtesy NOAA)

Spring Captured: Freezing rain attempts to halt spring by Mike Shelby. Image taken by a camera phone. (Courtesy NOAA)

Spring Captured: Freezing rain attempts to halt spring by Mike Shelby. Image taken by a camera phone. (Courtesy NOAA)

Fire In the Sky Over Glacier National Park. Honorable mention, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Sashikanth Chintla (Courtesy NOAA)

Fire In the Sky Over Glacier National Park. Honorable mention, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Sashikanth Chintla. (Courtesy NOAA)

Fog Rolls In From the Ocean on a Hot Summer Day. Honorable mention, “Professional Submission” byRobert Raia (Courtesy NOAA)

Fog Rolls In From the Ocean on a Hot Summer Day. Honorable mention, “Professional Submission” by Robert Raia (Courtesy NOAA)

Proton Arc Over Lake Superior. Second place, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Ken William. (Courtesy NOAA)

Proton Arc Over Lake Superior. Second place, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Ken William. (Courtesy NOAA)

Snow Express. First place, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Conrad Stenftenagel. (Courtesy NOAA)

Snow Express. First place, “Weather, Water, and Climate” by Conrad Stenftenagel. (Courtesy NOAA)

Stars Behind the Storm. First place, “Professional Submission” by Brad Goddard. (Courtesy NOAA)

Stars Behind the Storm. First place, “Professional Submission” by Brad Goddard. (Courtesy NOAA)