Incredible pictures of Nebraska 'supercell' storm with UFO clouds and lightning strikes

Freelance photographer Vanessa Neufeld couldn't believe her luck when she caught the amazing lightning strikes on camera

These incredible pictures were taken during a 'supercell' storm, also known as a rotating thunderstorm.

The skyline was filled with the unusual UFO-shaped clouds during the storm, which broke over farmland near Broken Bow, Nebraska, USA.

Super Storm: These incredible pictures were taken during a storm in Nebraska

Freelance photographer Vanessa Neufeld, 36, couldn't believe her luck when she caught the amazing lightning strikes on camera.

Vanessa, from Calgary in Alberta Canada, is a storm chaser, which means she actively pursues the hugely powerful weather formations to get these kind of pictures.

She said: "Getting the shot through the clouds was luck and great timing.

"The lightning was very consistent and I just set my camera up at a nice exposure for the natural light on the event of a strike. Then I got very lucky."

UFO Clouds: The rotating thunderstorm created huge clouds like these

The unusual shaped clouds are part of a low precipitation supercell storm where updrafts of air rotate around a verticle axis, creating UFO-like shapes. The formations last for around 30 to 40 minutes, eventually becoming smaller until they disappear.

Vanessa said: "The power of nature fills me with awe. I'm a photographer so I'm extremely visual and there is nothing more stunning than a storm to me and I'm right in my element then.

Solent News & Photo Agency
Lucky Strike: Photographer Vanessa Neufeld couldn't believer her luck to capture the shots

"I have seen and photographed many tornados but the storms that produce great cloud structure and lightning instead are my favorite. Lighting sometimes scares me more than a tornado.

"I usually can't tell how close I'm getting to where the lightning is but I'm usually very careful and have thankfully only had one close call!"

For more of her amazing work, check out Vanessa's twitter profile @VanessaNeufeld



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