It seems 2021 got the last laugh as fish fell from the sky in one small town in Texas.
According to local news station KXXV, residents in Texarkana, Texas, located about 200 miles from Dallas in east Texas, saw fish fall from the sky as they landed on lawns, streets, and businesses.
Many residents took to social media to post pictures and videos of the phenomenon, which is also known as “animal rain.” The City of Texarkana, Texas, took to Facebook in order to explain the phenomenon to its concerned residents.
City of Texarkana, Texas, Posts Official Statement On Raining Fish
The City of Texarkana took to Facebook to make it clear that fish were really raining from the sky, and “no, this isn’t a joke.”
“2021 is pulling out all the tricks… including raining fish in Texarkana today,” the statement began. “And no, this isn’t a joke.”
“Animal rain is a phenomenon that occurs when small water animals like frogs, crabs, and small fish are swept up in waterspouts or drafts that occur on the surface of the earth,” they continued. “They are then rained down at the same time as the rain.”
“While it’s uncommon, it happens, as evidenced in several places in Texarkana today,” they added. “So, show us your fishy pics! And please, for the sake of everyone, let’s tiptoe into 2022 as quietly as possible.”
Facebook / Mike SiefertOne resident named Mike Siefert actually posted a photo of him holding up a giant fish that he caught before it hit the ground. Another resident, Matthew Jones, posted a photo of a large fish that he said hit him in the head while he was walking his dog in the rain.
Residents Take To Social Media: ‘We’re In Big Trouble’
Facebook / Matthew Jones“So…. Sharknado ISN’T as ridiculous as I thought,” another commented.
“There are probably a lot of happy stray cats,” another joked.
“I wish it would occasionally rain money, is that a thing?” another asked. “Why can’t money-rain be a phenomenon? Come on, 2022, let’s see what it can do!”
“If it ever starts raining salmon, we’re in big trouble,” another joked.
“I guess that is better than cats and dogs,” another commented.
Yep. It rained fish at my house too. pic.twitter.com/NRfT8veXT9
— C’mill™️ (@camillecwarren) December 30, 2021
“People thought I was crazy about 20 years ago when I told them it rained frogs at my hog farm,” another added. “I stood there dumbfounded looking at my concrete walkways being covered as they were falling. I was wondering if the world was coming to an end.”
“When I was a little girl, it rained baby frogs,” another added. “I caught a whole bunch of them in a 5 gallon bucket.”
“It did that on our farm near Paul’s Valley when I was a small kid about 1951,” another shared. “There were craw dads and lil minnows about 50 years from one of our tanks as they were called back then… it really does happen.”
This phenomenon is actually more common than one might expect. In 2017, local station KTVU reported that residents in Oroville, California, saw over 100 fish rain down on an elementary school’s playground and roof.
