Nat Geo – Extreme Weather Photos

Volcano Lightning, Iceland

The eruption’s ash clouds delayed European air travel for nearly a week.

Storms over volcanoes contain the same ingredients as storms over your hometown—water droplets, ice, and occasionally hail. The interaction of all of these elements creates an electrical charge that sparks lightning. Active craters add ash to the mix.

(Related: “Iceland Volcano Pictures: Lightning Adds Flash to Ash” and “Pictures: Volcano Lightning, Illuminated.”)

For an in-depth exploration of extreme weather events around the world, read National Geographic magazine’s September feature “Weather Gone Wild.”

–Tasha Eichenseher

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