From raining frogs to fire rainbow: 10 unbelievable weather events that made humans go Oh fish! - see pics

Nature can be strange, surprising, and downright unbelievable. From showers of fish and frogs to blood-red rain and snow in the Sahara, the world has witnessed phenomena that seem straight out of a fantasy. Rare lightning orbs, frost flowers in polar seas, and even fire rainbows paint a vivid picture of how extraordinary weather and environmental events can be.

These astonishing events are not just curiosities—they reveal the incredible power of nature, from violent storms and volcanic eruptions to microscopic spores and ice crystals. Across continents and oceans, humans have stared in awe as the impossible unfolds above, below, and all around them.

Fish rain

In the small town of Yoro, Honduras, residents witness an astonishing event almost every year called Lluvia de Peces (“Rain of Fish”). During heavy storms, strong winds or waterspouts lift fish from nearby rivers or ponds, dropping them over streets and fields. Locals often collect the fish afterward, calling it a blessing. While anecdotal, scientists suggest that tornado-like wind systems during intense storms can carry fish over short distances, creating the seemingly impossible spectacle. This unique phenomenon has been reported for decades, often in late spring and summer when storms are strongest.


Snow in the Sahara Desert

Though the Sahara Desert is famed for its scorching sands, rare snowfalls have been recorded in 1979, 2016, and 2018. Cold air from northern regions combines with local atmospheric moisture, leading to brief snow showers over sand dunes. Temperatures can drop dramatically overnight, allowing snow to settle on the golden dunes, creating a surreal white-on-gold landscape. These snow events are short-lived, often melting within hours under the desert sun, but they captivate observers worldwide.


Black rain

After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, survivors reported black rain falling over the devastated city. The soot-laden precipitation formed as radioactive dust and debris mixed with atmospheric moisture. This rain caused further contamination and injuries, darkening streets and clothes. Documented extensively by historians and scientists, it is a tragic example of how human-made disasters can produce extraordinary natural effects, where precipitation carries harmful particles, creating both visual and lethal consequences for affected populations. Black rain continued in pockets for several days after the blast.


Volcanic lightning

During eruptions at Japan’s Mount Sakurajima and other volcanoes, lightning has been observed striking within volcanic ash clouds. The phenomenon occurs as friction between ash particles creates static electricity, igniting bolts in the thick, smoke-filled sky. Photographers have captured these electric displays erupting alongside fiery lava and dense volcanic plumes, producing a spectacular mix of natural fire and electricity.


Red rain

In Kerala in 2001, residents observed rainfall that appeared blood-red. Scientific analysis revealed that the red particles were spores from local algae. Heavy showers carried these spores from rivers or ponds, giving the rain its dramatic crimson hue. The unusual downpour drew global attention, sparking curiosity and myths about extraterrestrial origins. This phenomenon lasted several weeks, mostly in July and August, during the monsoon season. It remains a well-documented natural event that illustrates how microscopic biological particles can dramatically alter the colour of rainwater, creating a striking, surreal visual effect.


Rare ball lightning

Ball lightning is an extremely rare phenomenon where glowing, spherical orbs of electricity appear during thunderstorms, moving unpredictably and sometimes entering buildings before vanishing. Scientists still debate the exact causes, but the balls are thought to form from high-voltage electrical discharges combined with atmospheric moisture. Reports exist across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Witnesses often describe them hovering, bouncing, or rolling across floors, radiating bright, bluish-white light.


Frog rain

In 2005, a small Serbian town reported frogs falling from the sky during a torrential downpour. Meteorologists explained that strong winds, updrafts, or waterspouts likely lifted the amphibians from nearby ponds or rivers, carrying them several kilometres before depositing them onto streets and gardens. Residents were startled by the hopping creatures showering down with rain. Similar events have occurred in the United States and Europe.


Fish tornado

Across the US, tornadoes have occasionally been documented lifting fish from lakes and ponds, depositing them miles away in fields or towns. During intense twisters, the swirling winds can carry lightweight aquatic animals, creating the bizarre phenomenon of raining fish. Meteorological folklore records multiple such instances, especially in states like Florida and Louisiana, where waterspouts form over lakes or coastal waters.


Frost flowers

Frost flowers are delicate ice crystals that form on sea ice or polar regions under extreme cold and calm conditions. They grow when supercooled water vapor rises and freezes on the surface of newly formed ice, creating intricate, flower-like structures. Observed in the Arctic, Antarctic, and polar seabeds, these frost flowers reflect light, often sparkling in the low sun. They play a role in releasing salts and trace chemicals into the atmosphere and marine ecosystems.


Fire rainbows

Fire rainbows, or circumhorizontal arcs, occur when sunlight passes through ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds at a specific angle, creating rainbow-like streaks in the sky. They are extremely rare and require precise conditions, often appearing during summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike normal rainbows, they are horizontal and have vivid, flame-like colours. Fire rainbows have been spotted in the US, Europe, and Asia, often photographed by skywatchers.