Imagine walking outside and seeing fish falling from the sky. Sounds like a scene from a fantasy movie, right? But believe it or not, this phenomenon actually happens in some parts of the world. It is called animal rain, and it involves fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures being lifted from their habitats and carried by strong winds to distant locations, where they eventually drop to the ground. How does this happen, and where does it occur? Let’s find out.
How does fish rain happen?
The most common explanation for animal rain is that it is caused by waterspouts. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water and suck up water and anything else in their path. They can travel over land and lose their strength, releasing their contents as they go. If a waterspout passes over a body of water that contains fish or frogs, it can pick them up and carry them along with the water droplets. The fish or frogs may remain alive in the clouds for some time, until they are too heavy for the wind to support them. Then, they fall down as rain, sometimes in large numbers and over a wide area.
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Another possible explanation for animal rain is that it is caused by storms or strong winds that sweep over water and lift fish or frogs into the air. These animals may be carried by the wind for a long distance before they fall down. This may explain why some cases of animal rain involve only one species or size of animal, as they may have been selectively lifted by the wind.
Where does fish rain occur?
Fish rain is a rare and unpredictable phenomenon, but it has been reported in many places around the world. Some of the most notable cases are:
- In 2010, hundreds of spangled perch rained down on the town of Lajamanu in Australia’s Northern Territory. The fish were alive and flopping on the ground. The locals collected them and ate them. The same thing happened again in 20161.
- In 2015, thousands of small fish rained down on the city of Chilaw in Sri Lanka. The fish were about 5 to 8 cm long and were of a local species. The fish were also alive and edible. The locals believed it was a sign of good luck2.
- In 2017, a heavy rainstorm in Tampico, Mexico, brought down fish along with the water. The fish were about 10 to 15 cm long and were of a freshwater species. The local authorities attributed the phenomenon to a waterspout that had formed over a nearby river3.
- In 2018, a school of fish fell from the sky in the city of Qingdao in China. The fish were about 20 cm long and were of a saltwater species. The fish were dead and frozen. The local meteorologists suggested that the fish had been lifted by a strong wind from the sea and then frozen by the cold air in the clouds4.
Conclusion
Fish rain is a fascinating and mysterious phenomenon that involves fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals falling from the sky. The most likely cause of animal rain is waterspouts, which are tornadoes that form over water and suck up water and anything else in their path. Another possible cause is storms or strong winds that sweep over water and lift fish or frogs into the air. Animal rain is rare and unpredictable, but it has been reported in many places around the world. fish rain may be seen as a blessing or a curse, depending on the culture and the context. But one thing is certain: it is a sight to behold.
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