When you think of “10 recent rains” you probably picture ordinary showers, not a sky full of swimming surprises. Yet, across the globe, communities have witnessed fish literally falling from clouds – a quirky, documented meteorological oddity that’s as real as it is surreal. Below, we dive into ten of the most recent and remarkable fish‑rain events, complete with vivid details, dates, and local reactions.
10 Recent Rains: A Sky‑Full of Fish
10 Lajamanu, Australia
On the fringe of the Tanami Desert, about 550 km (340 mi) from the nearest sizable town of Katherine, sits the tiny settlement of Lajamanu in the Northern Territory. It isn’t exactly a fishing hotspot.
Between 1974 and 2010, Lajamanu experienced at least three documented fish falls – in 1974, 2004, and 2010. The fish were small, live spangled perch that must have spent many hours aloft before landing. The nearest major water bodies, Lake Argyle and Lake Elliot, lie a long way away, and even the closest river is over 480 km (300 mi) distant.
The locals were overjoyed, treating the event as an impromptu fishing expedition by scooping the perch off the town’s football oval.
9 Tampico, Mexico
The local weather service warned of a “slight rain” for Tampico, but omitted the part about fish.
On 26 September 2017, a routine rain shower delivered a scattering of tiny fish onto the streets. Though the quantity wasn’t massive and no one rushed out with buckets, a video exists showing fish dotting the pavement.
Pedro Granados, director of civil protection for Tamaulipas, described the phenomenon as more than a curiosity yet less apocalyptic than some might think. “I don’t know if it’s climate change,” he said, “but we’ve had tornadoes, storms, rains, floods, raining fish, eclipses, earthquakes – all kinds of new natural events.”
8 Komanapalli and Singuripeta, India
The modest villages of Komanapalli and Singuripeta in Srikakulam district were taken aback when Cyclone Roanu delivered not devastation but a deluge of small fish that littered their fields.
In May 2016, fresh Indian major carp cascaded onto agricultural land. With the fisheries department’s blessing, locals quickly gathered the half‑hour’s worth of fish and cooked them at home – a literal case of “catching” dinner without leaving the field.
The carp were alive when they landed, likely swept up from nearby ponds by the cyclone’s powerful winds before being deposited with the rain.
7 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Dire Dawa, a bustling Ethiopian city of over half a million, has long struggled with drought and economic hardship.
In January 2016, residents were startled when a brief rain brought sizable fish falling from a clear sky. The fish showered heavily over parts of the city, and locals eagerly collected them for use.
Since there were no storms or cyclones in the area, a Ministry of Livestock and Fishery spokesperson dubbed the event a divine gift, attributing it to a higher power rather than atmospheric forces.
6 Loreto, Philippines
In January 2012, the land‑locked province of Agusan del Sur, specifically Loreto, experienced a startling rain of small mudfish.
Only 72 of the fallen fish survived the dramatic descent, and the living specimens were seized by local authorities for scientific study.
Scientists believe a waterspout sucked the mudfish into the clouds, where the damp environment kept them alive long enough to survive the fall.
5 Knighton, Wales
On 18 August 2004, a writers’ group traveling to a meeting in Knighton was caught off‑guard by a sudden shower that dropped a handful of minnow‑sized fish right onto the town’s streets.
Some of the fish were still alive upon impact, though they soon perished amidst the gathered writers. (Staring at a fish won’t magically revive it; lack of water does the rest.)
Analysts estimate the fish traveled at least 80 km (50 mi) from the nearest coastline before making their unexpected appearance.
4 Oroville, California
May 16 2017 brought an eerie fish‑rain to Stanford Avenue Elementary School in Oroville, California. The scene was puzzling: fish littered the playground, and a quick roof inspection revealed even more fish perched up there, yet no one witnessed any fish falling.
Initial concerns ranged from terrorism to pranksters, but no evidence of an intruder or a plane dumping cargo emerged. The fish were whole, untouched, and there were no birds in the vicinity that could have dropped them.
With no clear culprit, the incident remains a baffling example of a genuine fish fall.
3 Nallur, Sri Lanka
When you search “Jaffna,” the first result is often “Jaffna Fish Curry.” In November 2017, this culinary fame was reinforced when a rainstorm delivered fish to the Jaffna region of Sri Lanka.
The downpour coincided with the monsoon season, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms that dropped fish onto the streets. Residents collected the unexpected bounty and eagerly prepared it, often turning it into the famed local curry.
Locals reported that similar fish‑rain events had occurred over the previous three years, making the phenomenon a semi‑regular culinary surprise.
2 Fairbanks, Alaska
In June 2015, Fairbanks residents were treated to a startling rain of large lampreys – eel‑like, toothy fish that look like nature’s version of a mythic monster.
Only four lampreys were recovered, and just one was still alive when found in a store parking lot and placed into a bucket.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game noted that the lampreys bore small, evenly spaced holes on their sides, and they suspected gulls as the most likely source of the airborne delivery.
1 Yoro, Honduras
Yoro, Honduras, hosts a truly annual spectacle known as the Lluvia de Peces (Rain of Fish), a tradition that dates back to the 1800s and occurs each May or June.
Storms sweep fish from the sky onto the town’s streets, where locals gather the bounty for meals. While many attribute the phenomenon to waterspouts lifting fish aloft, locals also view it as a divine answer to prayers, recalling Father José Manuel Subirana’s 1998 intercession that allegedly summoned the first modern‑day fish rain.
Each year the species of fish may differ, possibly sourced from various ocean regions, though some theories suggest subterranean blind fish are forced to the surface by flooding. Regardless, the event provides a celebrated feast for the community.