Can it really rain toads, fish, or even spiders? Although it sounds more like a fantasy story or an urban legend, The truth is that this phenomenon exists and has been documented in different parts of the world, including Spain.The so-called animal rains, also known as Fortean rains, are rare but real events that have intrigued scientists, journalists, and curious onlookers for centuries. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about this peculiar phenomenon.
From ancient stories to current reports on television and local pressThe rain of animals has continued to arouse astonishment and all kinds of theories. In Spain, even in recent times, such episodes have been documented, proving that it is not a mere myth. Let's dive into the recorded examples, the scientific hypotheses that try to explain it and the most striking historical cases.
Historical and current examples of animal rains
Throughout history, there have been multiple recorded cases of animal rains around the world., from Europe to America, Asia and Oceania. On many occasions, the written press has witnessed and chronicled these phenomena, increasing its credibility by having numerous witnesses.
For example, in 1578 a rain of yellow mice was reported in Bergen, Norway. In 1861, after several days of heavy rain, fish appeared in puddles in Singapore, and some claimed to have seen them fall from the sky. In 1877, the magazine Scientific American magazine reported a shower of snakes in Memphis, United States. Even in Spain, in 1872, a shower of quail was documented in San Fernando (Cádiz), which were later used as food for army troops.
More recently, in 2007, the inhabitants of Rebolledo, in Alicante, were surprised by a shower of frogs.And in June 2024, the residents of Wamba, a small municipality in Valladolid, woke up to find the streets covered in tiny toads. Although they didn't appear to fall, They appeared suddenly after an intense storm.
How is it possible that it rains animals?
The explanation most accepted by the scientific community is the intervention of waterspouts or water tornadoes.These meteorological phenomena have the ability to suck up water and everything in it, including small animals like fish, toads, and crabs. Later, the winds transport this mass to other areas, where the animals fall to the ground along with the rain..
Other hypotheses point to strong onshore winds capable of lifting animals from ponds, small rivers, or wet fields. This theory explains well why most of these animals are small and light, like frogs, fish or insects.. In addition, it has been proven that these events are often preceded by severe storms, which strengthens the atmospheric theory.
Sometimes animals even survive the impact., which suggests that They were recently captured by the meteorological phenomenon and have not been in the air for long.It is also striking that it is usually just one species per event, which seems to indicate that they come from the same habitat sucked into the tornado or waterspout.
Documented cases in Spain
At least three significant animal rain events have been recorded in Spain., concentrated especially in the Valencian Community and Castile and León. In Rebolledo, Alicante, an intense rain of frogs was reported in 2007 after a heavy downpour. This phenomenon was reported by neighbors and picked up by local media..
Another notable case occurred on June 20, 2024, in Wamba, Valladolid. After a severe storm, residents found the ground covered in toads just 1,5 cm long. Although no one saw them fall, Its appearance is considered a Fortean shower, probably caused by a nearby waterspout..
The fact that these animals fell in very localized areas and during intense rainfall events This strengthens the idea that they were transported by extraordinary atmospheric phenomena. Quail showers have also been documented in Valencia in the late 19th century, although in that case they were birds. which could involve other factors, such as migration or accidents in air flocks.
Historical theories and non-scientific explanations
For centuries, the lack of meteorological knowledge led to theories that today seem far-fetched.Some people believed that animals were born in the clouds or sent by supernatural forces. In the Old Testament, one of the plagues that struck Egypt was a shower of frogs, interpreted as divine punishment.
There are also more fanciful interpretations. Journalist Charles Hoy Fort, who documented thousands of unexplained phenomena, proposed theories about unknown forces, teleportation, or even extraterrestrial intervention to explain these events. Although now dismissed by science, these ideas had an influence on popular culture.
Some popular expressions like “it's raining cats and dogs” have roots in these phenomena., although more in the collective imagination than in real evidence. Humor, religion, and mystery intertwine in these explanations that seek to make sense of the unknown.
The role of science in the study of these rains
With the advancement of meteorological knowledge, it is now possible to explain many of these events without resorting to supernatural theories.Waterspouts, tornadoes, and mesoscale convective systems are atmospheric elements capable of generating these surprising rainfall events.
The French physicist André-Marie Ampère already speculated in the 19th century that the winds could be responsibleThis hypothesis was accepted and completed by later researchers. Today it is understood that Strong air currents can lift animals from bodies of water and keep them suspended until the storm loses strength and drops them..
Some studies even use weather radars to anticipate these events.For example, in Texas, radar has documented how a flock of bats enters the vortex of a tornado, allowing for a clearer understanding of the process.
Fortean rains in popular culture
These phenomena have not gone unnoticed in literature, film and television.From the Bible to modern novels like Haruki Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore," to films like "Magnolia," which features a rain of frogs, The theme has captured the collective imagination.
Authors such as Alexandre Dumas, Enid Blyton, and the French writer Colette have also included rains of frogs and other animals in their works. Even in anime and video games, such as "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," this phenomenon appears as part of the plot.
Animal rains have also been covered by media such as the History Channel, which aired a report on the annual fish rain in Yoro, Honduras. There, between June and July, it is common for residents to find a local species of sardines in the streets after every major storm..