When we hear the word “precipitation”, the first thing that comes to mind is the usual rain , snow or hail. But nature does not always act according to the standard scenario. Sometimes it throws up real surprises, forcing people to look at the sky with amazement (or horror). In the 21st century, Phenomenal precipitation: when unexpected falls from sky, there have been many such cases. From fish rain to mysterious jelly-like substances. Let’s figure out what could have fallen from the sky and why.
Fish Rain: The Sea Against the Laws of Gravity
Stories about fish falling from the sky have existed since ancient times. But even in the modern world, they have not lost their relevance. One of the most famous fish rains occurred in 2017 in the Mexican city of Tampico. After a severe storm, local residents found dozens of small fish on the streets. Which were lying right on the asphalt. Scientists explain this phenomenon as follows: powerful upward air currents during a storm or tornado can suck water together with its inhabitants, and then “throw” them in a completely different place.
But the most interesting thing is that fish rains occur regularly in Honduras! Every year from May to July, locals expect the “Lluvia de Peces” – that’s what they call this phenomenon. According to legend, back in the 19th century, monk José Manuel Subirana prayed for God to help the poor, and after his prayer, fish first came down from the sky. Now it’s a tradition: after such rains, people collect fish and cook them for dinner.
Interestingly, similar phenomena have been reported in other parts of the world. For example, in 2020, residents of the Philippines reported shrimp rain after a severe hurricane. In Australia, cases of not only fish. But also tadpoles falling from the sky were also recorded. All this supports the theory that aquatic creatures can rise into the atmosphere on powerful air currents.
In 2023, another striking incident occurred in Texas. After a hurricane, residents of one area found dozens of octopuses and starfish scattered across the streets. Biologists confirmed that the animals were indeed carried by air currents. But how high they rose remains a mystery.
Spiders from the sky: a living nightmare for arachnophobes
Once, residents of the Brazilian city of Aracando witnessed a real “horror movie.” In 2013, thousands of small spiders literally fell from the sky, clinging to power lines, roofs, and trees. The terrifying sight was captured on video, which quickly spread across the Internet.
The explanation turned out to be quite simple, but no less amazing. Some species of spiders are able to “fly” on a web, releasing thin threads that are picked up by the wind. In warm countries, when the spider population becomes too large, they can simultaneously set off on a journey. That is why in Golburn ( Australia ) in 2015 the streets were literally covered with cobwebs. Thousands of tiny spiders fell from the sky like light snow.
A similar phenomenon was observed in Argentina in 2022. After an unusually hot period, thousands of spiders took to the air and settled on cars and houses, completely covering the area with whitish webs.
Phenomenal precipitation: mysterious jelly-like precipitation
In 2012, after a severe storm in Scotland, residents discovered a strange jelly-like substance scattered across fields. Analyses have not provided a precise explanation of what it consists of. Some scientists have suggested that it is the remains of jellyfish washed ashore. Others have put forward the theory that it is the result of atmospheric processes associated with the release of biological materials into the air.
This has happened before. In 1994, in Oakville, USA, after heavy rain, the streets were covered with a clear jelly-like mass. People who came into contact with it soon began to feel unwell, which led to a wave of rumors about biological contamination.
Bloody rain: a mystical phenomenon or a natural mystery?
Red rain sounds ominous, and it’s no wonder. In ancient times, people perceived such phenomena as a bad omen. However, in the 21st century, this has happened more than once. One of the most famous cases occurred in 2001 in the Indian state of Kerala. For several weeks, the rain turned blood-red. This gave rise to many theories: from a meteorite to alien intervention.
But everything turned out to be much simpler: analyses showed that the color of the rain was caused by spores of local algae, which rose into the atmosphere and then fell with precipitation. Similar red rains have also occurred in Europe . For example, in Spain and the UK, when the winds brought particles of red sand from the Sahara.
In 2015, Sri Lanka experienced a dark red rainstorm. Locals noted that after the rain dried, strange flakes of biomaterial remained on the surface. Studies have shown that microscopic organisms were found in these deposits, the origin of which remains a mystery.
Phenomenal rainfall: rain of money
In 1940, silver and gold coins from the 16th and 17th centuries fell to the ground after a thunderstorm in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia. This happened because the storm washed away a hidden treasure, and the coins were lifted into the air and then scattered throughout the area.
In the 21st century, similar cases have occurred, albeit less frequently. One of the most interesting incidents occurred in 2015 in the German city of Giessen. Eyewitnesses said that banknotes of 100 and 500 euros suddenly began to fall from the sky. The police even blocked off the area to understand the situation. In the end, it was never possible to establish exactly where the money came from. One version is that the money was accidentally thrown out of some vehicle or plane.
Another “money rain” was recorded in Kuwait in 2017. A video of residents of the capital running through the streets catching banknotes went viral. Some suggested that the money might have fallen from a bank cashier’s car or been scattered by someone on purpose.
In 2021, an even more bizarre incident took place in Hong Kong. An unidentified man standing on the roof of a skyscraper scattered a huge amount of banknotes, causing chaos on the streets. Police then arrested the blogger who organized this “rain” as part of his advertising campaign.
And although most cases of “money rain” have a logical explanation, they still leave a sense of wonder.
When the unexpected falls from the sky: falling birds
Similar incidents have occurred in other parts of the world. For example, in 2022, in the Mexican city of Chihuahua, surveillance cameras recorded hundreds of yellow-headed woodpeckers suddenly falling to the ground. Some of the birds died immediately, while others were able to fly again soon after. Experts believe that they could have fallen into a zone of low atmospheric pressure or been exposed to toxic emissions into the air.
Another strange incident occurred in 2018 in the Netherlands, when more than 300 dead starlings were found near a mobile phone tower. The incident sparked numerous conspiracy theories, as 5G testing was taking place nearby. However, scientists explain that the real cause was probably toxic exposure to certain substances or sudden changes in the magnetic field.
An equally mysterious incident occurred in India in 2019, when hundreds of pigeons circled in the air, then seemed to lose their bearings and began to fall one by one. Eyewitnesses described it as a real “bird apocalypse.” Some researchers suggest that the cause could have been mass intoxication due to air pollution or even unusually strong magnetic storms.
Experts continue to study such phenomena, as they can be important markers of environmental change. For now, we can only guess what else might fall from the sky in the future.
What else can fall from the sky?
Nature knows how to surprise, and it seems that there are no limits to its imagination. In different years of the 21st century, people have observed rains of frogs, insect invasions, volcanic ash falls, and even strange metal objects, the origin of which has never been explained. The next time you hear the patter of drops outside the window, look outside. Maybe it’s not just rain.
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