20 Weird Weather Events That Scientists Still Can’t Fully Explain
From raining fish to glowing tornadoes, these bizarre weather events have left scientists scratching their heads.
- Chris Graciano
- 5 min read
The weather can be unpredictable. However, certain weather conditions are so unusual that even scientists fail to explain them. Across history, meteorologists have been baffled by mysterious storms. Here are 20 of the strangest meteorological phenomena that still defy complete scientific explanation.
1. The Blood Rain of Kerala (2001) – A Crimson Mystery
Hiran Venugopalan on Flickr
For weeks, red-tinted rain fell across parts of India, staining clothes and streets. Some suspected pollution, while others blamed it on aliens.
2. The Dancing Plague (1518) – Weather-Induced Madness?
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Hundreds of people in Strasbourg began dancing uncontrollably for days, collapsing from exhaustion. Some theorists suggest extreme heat and weather stress may have triggered mass hysteria.
3. The Great Frost of 1709 – A Winter Like No Other
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Europe experienced its coldest winter in history, freezing rivers solid and destroying crops. The cold was so intense that wine turned to ice in bottles and birds dropped mid-flight.
4. The Tunguska Explosion (1908) – A Fireball from Nowhere
Pixabay on Pexels
A massive explosion flattened 800 square miles of Siberian forest, with no impact crater found. Some blame a meteor airburst, while others suggest an atmospheric anomaly.
5. The Year Without a Summer (1816) – A Chilling Mystery
Simon Berger on Pexels
Snow fell in June, crops failed, and global temperatures plummeted. While a volcanic eruption is the leading theory, the extreme weather changes still puzzle researchers.
6. The Black Rain of Hiroshima (1945) – A Toxic Downpour
United States Army on Wikimedia Commons
After the atomic bomb dropped, an eerie black rain coated the city. This thick, sticky substance carried radioactive particles, but its exact formation process is still not entirely understood.
7. The Floating Island of Lake Titicaca – A Drifting Wonder
Pet_r on Flickr
Locals have long reported a mysterious island appearing and disappearing on the lake. Some speculate shifting weather patterns affect its visibility
8. The Hessdalen Lights (Norway) – A Sky Show Without Answers
Joe Thomissen on Wikimedia Commons
Glowing orbs of light hover and dart over Norway’s Hessdalen Valley. Some think electrical discharges cause them, while others suspect a natural gas reaction.
9. The Devil’s Kettle Waterfall (Minnesota) – A Vanishing Act
August Schwerdfeger on Wikimedia Commons
Half of the river disappears into a hole and seemingly never resurfaces. Scientists have tried tracing its path but haven’t confirmed where the water goes.
10. The Great Smog of London (1952) – A Deadly Cloud
lan deng on Unsplash
A thick fog choked London for days, killing thousands. While coal pollution played a role, why it became so deadly quickly remains debated.
11. The Fire Tornadoes of 2020 – A Blazing Cyclone
kerry rawlinson on Unsplash
During California’s wildfires, spinning columns of fire formed, creating fiery tornadoes. Scientists know they occur when heat and wind interact, but why some fires spawn these vortexes while others don’t is unclear.
12. The Boiling River of Peru – A Steaming Mystery
Boiling1 on Wikimedia Commons
Deep in the Amazon, a river runs so hot that it can cook animals alive. While geothermal activity seems like the answer, there’s no volcano nearby.
13. The Rain of Fish in Honduras – A Watery Feast
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At least once a year, fish fall from the sky after heavy storms. Scientists theorize waterspouts lift them from the ocean, but no one has ever witnessed it happening.
14. The Shadowy Fog of the 536 AD Event – A Year of Darkness
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Historical records describe a strange, sun-blocking fog that caused widespread famine. Some blame volcanic eruptions, while others suspect a comet impact.
15. The Ice Bombs of Lake Michigan – Frozen Missiles from Nowhere
Paladin27 on Flickr
Massive ice balls, some weighing hundreds of pounds, appear on the lake’s shore during winter. While wind and waves contribute, why they only form in certain years is unknown.
16. The Everlasting Storm of Catatumbo – A Never-Ending Lightning Show
Michelle McEwen on Unsplash
A region in Venezuela experiences nearly constant lightning storms for most of the year. Scientists have linked it to weather patterns and geography, but why it’s so consistent is still unclear.
17. The Green Sky Before Tornadoes – An Ominous Glow
carol on Wikimedia Commons
Before some of the worst tornadoes, the sky turns an eerie green. Meteorologists believe it has to do with light scattering, but there’s no definite answer.
18. The Vanishing Lake of Patagonia – A Body of Water That Disappeared Overnight
Burley Packwood on Wikimedia Commons
A large lake in Chile seemingly drained away overnight, leaving behind only dry land. Scientists discovered a crack in the lake bed, but how it formed so suddenly is unknown.
19. The Mysterious Snow Rollers – Nature’s Perfect Snowballs
benjamin lehman on Unsplash
Massive, hollow snow cylinders appear in open fields without human interference. They require very specific weather conditions to form, but why they’re so rare is unknown.
20. The Sudden Freeze of 1810 – A Flash-Frozen World
Magda Ehlers on Pexels
Reports describe a dramatic temperature drop that froze rivers and livestock within hours. While scientists suspect a volcanic or atmospheric disturbance, no major eruption was recorded that year.