Fish rain is a rare natural phenomenon where fish fall from the sky during or after rainfall. This unusual event, also known as animal rain, has been reported in various parts of the world such as Yoro (Honduras), Kerala (India), and Lajamanu (Australia). The most accepted scientific explanation involves waterspouts — tornado-like rotating columns of air over water. These waterspouts can suck up small aquatic animals like fish or frogs from lakes or oceans and carry them into the atmosphere. When the storm moves inland and loses strength, the animals fall to the ground, often with rain.
There are also non-tornado causes. Strong updrafts in thunderstorms or microbursts can lift lightweight creatures into the sky without the need for rotating winds. In some cases, people confuse fish rain with flash floods that carry fish into unexpected places, or with birds accidentally dropping fish. However, in genuine cases of fish rain, the creatures often appear in areas far from water bodies, confirming atmospheric transportation.
The most famous example is the annual “Lluvia de Peces” (Rain of Fish) in Yoro, Honduras, which locals celebrate as a miracle but scientists attribute to weather patterns involving waterspouts. While still not fully understood, fish rain is accepted as a real meteorological event backed by eyewitness accounts and scientific observation. It highlights the surprising power of nature and the complexity of storm systems.
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