Louisiana Weather – The Time it Rained Fish, Worms, and Birds
You've certainly heard people say "Wow...it's raining cats and dogs" when rain is coming down heavily.
But, have you ever heard anyone say "It's raining frogs, worms, and birds"?
Probably not, but people have said it because it has happened...several times in Louisiana.
For well over the past 100 years, there have been multiple reports of strange showers throughout Louisiana.
Usually, we hear these odd weather reports from faraway places like Brazil, Norway, Honduras, and more.
However, weird weather like this actually happens in the U.S. and has happened a few times in Louisiana according to reports.
Raining Birds In Louisiana
In December 1896, it rained birds in Baton Rouge according to countryroadsmagazine.com.
That's right. According to news reports a "deluge" of dead woodpeckers, ducks, catbirds, and "other assorted feathered creatures" rained down upon the unsuspecting residents of Baton Rouge.
It wasn't just a few dozen dead birds that fell from the sky.
It was reportedly estimated to be thousands of dead birds.
From countryroadsmagazine.com -
“Some idea of the extent of the shower may be gathered from the estimate that out on National Avenue alone, the children of the neighborhood collected as many as 200 birds.”
This horror show of a weather event also event happened in Winnfield as well on April 26, 1930.
The Winn Parish Enterprise reported that at approximately 11 pm "thousands of beautifully colored birds began to fall to the ground."
This went on for 2 solid hours.
This time, not all of the bids that fell out of the sky were dead and kids scooped up many of them to keep as pets.
Pets are cool and all, but something a bit more edible would be a lot more fun. If it's going to rain animals from the sky, it might as well be something we can make a good gravy with, right?
Well, break out the flower and the black pot...
Raining Fish In Louisiana
On October 23, 1947, it rained dead fish in Marksville.
According to theweathernetwork.com, that day was a foggy one, but not a very windy one. At least not windy enough to be able to toss fish into the sky from out of the Red River or Grand Lac and have them rain down miles away.
Although it only rained fish for a few minutes, it rained them by the thousands.
From countryroadsmagazine.com -
"Some of the fish appeared to be frozen while others were just cold to the touch. All were said to be 'fit for human consumption.'"
Thanks for the free lunch Mother Nature!
Now, let's talk about the living hell that was July 11, 2007, in Jennings when it rained worms.
Raining Worms In Louisiana
Jennings Police Department employee Eleanor Beal was crossing the street going to work when she noticed things falling from the sky.
Beal's first thought was that a huge flock of birds was flying above her while... relieving themselves.
Bird droppings it wasn't.
It was however raining large clumps of worms all over her and her co-worker.
What's worse? Bird poop or large balls of slimy worms?
From KPLC.com -
"'When I saw that they were crawling...I said it's worms get out of the way,' said Beal. 'I ran as fast as I could thinking I could get to shelter.'
It's very scary, I've never seen anything like this in my life.'"
Why Does It Rain Birds, Fish, And Worms?
It certainly seems like some kind of biblical sign of the apocalypse when it suddenly rains animals, but the explanation in some cases is a simple and reasonable one.
Theweathernetwork.com attributes the phenomenon to waterspouts.
"Waterspouts are cyclones that happen over a body of water. Sometimes, twisters pick up more than just water or houses that land on witches. Sometimes they pick up fish.
Once a waterspout picks up a bunch of water and fish, it brings it into the air and heads ashore. Once the cyclone loses its steam, the contents of the storm drop, and it rains fish."
Seems legit, but waterspouts can't be blamed in many of the documented cases of "Animal Rain".
In some reports from around the world, it's just not geographically reasonable for a waterspout to be able to carry fish, frogs, worms, and birds the distances needed for a plausible explanation.
There are documented reports of it raining meat, spiders, and blood.