A lightning pictured striking near Tonopah on July 17, 2015 in Arizona, United States. Huge hail, terrifying lighting and giant supercells the size of buildings – these incredible images depict a year in the life of a storm chaser. Shot in 2015 by photographer Mike Olbinski, 40, this series of pictures show both the beautiful and the extreme nature of weather in the United States. Arizona-born Mike, who started chasing storms seven years ago, takes snaps of the extraordinary meteorological events in “Tornado Alley” – which stretches from South Dakota to Texas. And the snapper insisted that 2015 has not disappointed when it comes to unbelievable weather. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





These dangerous lightning strike happening only a quarter mile away from Mike on July 10, 2015 in New Mexico, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





Superstrike: Mike's favourite image of the year which hit the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix on July 3, 2015 in Arizona, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A supercell that spawned a tornado earlier makes it was east north of McLean, Texas on April 16, 2015 in Texas, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





The Growler: This is a strong supercell approaching Lamar, Colorado on May 24, 2015 in Colorado, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





An approaching supercell south of Holly, Colorado on May 24, 2015 in Colorado, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A gorgeous Arizona sunset north of Tucson - the sky is covered with mammatus clouds, anti-crepuscular rays and rainbow on July 29, 2015 in Arizona, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





Taken southwest of Casa Grande – a lightning bolt travels down the rain shaft of a little thunderstorm on August 22, 2015 in Arizona, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





Beautiful but deadly: Mike captures forks of lightnings shooting out of the dark and brooding sky on August 14, 2015 in Arizona, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A tornado touches down near Dora, New Mexico on May 29, 2015 in New Mexico, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





An absolutely stunning supercell at sunset near Bledsoe on May 29, 2015 in Texas, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





This supercell near Rapid City lasted for hours and didn't move more than 15 miles on June 1, 2015 in South Dakota, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A beautiful haboob rolls north into the Phoenix area on August 25, 2015 in Arizona, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A powerful thunderstorm that dropped heavy rain and pea-sized hail moves off over Dead Indian Canyon along the Little Colorado River on September 7, 2015 in Grand canyon, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





The sky above the canyon is awash with colours after a heavy storm on September 7, 2015 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A beautiful supercell near Aurora on June 3, 2015 in Colorado, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)





A decaying supercell hovers over the Rapid City, South Dakota area, dropping rain and lightning bolts. on June 1, 2015 in South Dakota, United States. (Photo by Mike Olbinski/Barcroft Media)