These are the stunning images from the 2022 Weather Photographer competition. 0:53
(CNN) --
Dramatic lightning, extreme weather events, ice shows and sublime scenes of the Sun are some of the stunning images shortlisted for the 2022 Weather Photographer of the Year contest.
The 22 images, of which a selection is offered in the gallery above, show some of nature's most artistic moments.
This is the seventh edition of the Royal Meteorological Society competition.
"These photographs, whether taken with a DSLR (camera) or someone's cell phone, represent a shared global appreciation for the beauty of time and the sheer creativity of this growing community," said Jesse Ferrell, senior editor at meteorology from AccuWeather, the weather forecasting service that sponsors the contest.
According to the statement, the contest featured photographers from 119 countries for the main and mobile categories.
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On a beautiful mountain in Taiwan, Rossi Fang captured this photo of the sun melting the mountain ice from the night before.
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After a cloudy and rainy afternoon, the sun broke through the clouds and mist just in time for Aung Chan Thar to capture this beautiful sunset photo in Myanmar.
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During a beautiful, calm afternoon in Tankerton, Kent, England, Brendan Conway captured this image of people watching a spectacular simulated sunset over the Thames Estuary.
He says that "an additional mirage made the buildings of Southend appear to levitate".
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Days of heavy rain in the UK caused water to cascade over the Wet Sleddale dam wall near the Cumbrian village of Shap.
Andrew McCaren captured this photo because he wanted to illustrate the heavy rain and strong winds brought to the UK by Storm Dennis in February 2020.
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In the early evening hours, Luo Xing captured this photo of lightning lighting up Chongqing, China.
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During the monsoon season in the wetlands of West Bengal, India, Shibasish Saha captured this image of people picking aquatic flowers to sell at the local market.
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Carlos Castillejo Balsera arrived at dawn to see how a great storm was forming over Barcelona, Spain.
"As the sun was rising, I could see a large waterspout sliding off the harbor. From time to time, lightning would illuminate the scene."
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Two or three times a year, Črni Kal, a small town in Slovenia, experiences a temperature inversion that leaves fog under the motorway bridge.
When Sara Jazbar arrived, there was a wall of fog and visibility was reduced to a couple of meters.
However, after waiting for a few hours, this beautiful scene appeared.
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Extreme heat spells in India can cause rivers and ponds to dry up completely, leaving humans and animals scrambling for water.
Barun Rajgaria, who took this photo, explains that during "the drought, the women and children of the village (in Purulia, West Bengal) have to dig deep wells in the dry river, where the frozen water quenches the thirst of the locals".
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After chasing storms and squalls on the UK's Isle of Wight to capture some incredible rainbows, Jamie Russell arrived in Bembridge as the last squall was leaving.
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Krzysztof Tollas captured a picturesque icy sunrise over the Gwda River in Poland.
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Heavy rains in Addis Ababa flooded the streets, but Betel Tibebu said "in such misfortune comes the opportunity to photograph."
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On the cliff of Tavertet, in Barcelona, Spain, with the sun low behind and the Sau Valley covered in mist, Emili Vilamala Benito waited until a specter of Brocken appeared.
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On a full moon night, in the midst of a receding storm and one last flash of lightning, photographer Enric Navarrete Bachs achieved what he calls "dream lightning".
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In Kiruna, northern Sweden, Felipe Martin Menzella captured this beautiful ice pattern on a window just before sunrise.
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An overnight stop at Tarbet, Loch Lomond, Scotland, and an early morning walk with dogs Oscar and Ollie through Cruach Tairbert revealed this beautiful foggy scene to Vince Campbell.
The list of finalists was chosen last month by a jury of photography and meteorology experts, who also chose the winners, the statement added.
"I'm always surprised by something new, something I haven't seen before, or a new angle that reignites my passion for talking about the weather," said Liz Bentley, chief executive of the UK's Royal Meteorological Society.
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"As the contest has grown over the last seven years, it has allowed us to create a platform where more stories about the majesty and wonder of the weather can be told, and witness scenes of the impacts of climate change that can help drive action," he added.
The public can now vote for their favorite finalist on the Royal Meteorological Society website.
Voting closes on September 21.
The winners and finalists for Weather Photographer of the Year and Young Weather Photographer of the Year, as well as the result of the public vote, will be announced on October 6.