ANIMAL RAIN: THE SCIENTIFIC REASON BEHIND FISH FALLING FROM THE SKY 

Did you know that the rural inhabitants in Yoro, a capital city of the Yoro Department of Honduras, claim 'fish rain' happens there every summer in a phenomenon that is known as Lluvia de Peces?

Though the expression “raining cats and dogs” is quite common, the likelihood of a fish, even a catfish falling from the sky in any capacity and hitting you is incredibly low. Low, but that does not mean that it cannot happen. There have been numerous reports of catfish and other fish falling from the sky onto people and each has its own unique story.

On December 30, 2021, Texarkana, a city in Texas, US, had an unexpected but occuring event. Residents saw fish fall from the sky and land in their yards or sidewalks. The city said raining fish is a phenomenon called "animal rain" that happens when small water animals such as frogs, crabs or small fish are swept into waterspouts.

That wan't the first time fish fell from the sky. In 2017, teachers and students at an elementary school in Oroville, California, reported seeing 100 fish land on the school's playground and roof.

However, researchers say that they may have gotten to the bottom of what caused fish to fall from the sky: bird regurgitation.

Fish falling from the belly of a bird flying over is not the only occasion in which animals can rain down from the sky. In coastal areas where large water bodies are nearby, “animal rain” is somewhat more common and more likely to occur. 

Animal rain is a phenomenon that occurs when small water animals, like frogs, crabs, and small fishes are swept up in waterspouts or drafts that occur on the surface of the earth, are then rained down at the same time as the rain.

For this to happen, the weather event has to be very strong and very fast. Waterspouts can spin at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. They can pick up small objects with relative ease. In most cases, animal rain involves aquatic or semi-aquatic animals, commonly found near water sources where waterspouts and updrafts are common. Though this is the most common, there have been other cases of mysterious things falling from the sky too.

One interesting case happened in 1876. What people thought was a gift from the heavens turned out to be rotten meat from vultures, either dropping it or regurgitating it as they took flight.

The most famous and mysterious modern-day fish rain phenomenon is the legend of llu1via de pesces. Every year in May or June, small silver fishes rain from the sky. Though there are many scientific reasons behind this phenomenon, many residents believe it’s a miracle of God as this is the only time they get to eat fresh seafood.

Sources:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/31/fish-falling-from-sky-texarkana/9062273002/

https://ioutdoor.com/can-fish-fall-from-the-sky/