Within Croatia Mysteries
When Croatia's Weather Creates Impossible Scenes
Rare reports of animals or objects falling from the sky show how extreme weather can create genuinely puzzling experiences.
On this page
- How storms can transport animals
- Reports of unusual falls and reactions
- Science behind rare natural events
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Croatia’s most memorable “impossible weather” stories are not usually about the sky producing something truly unknown, but about ordinary natural forces creating scenes that seem impossible at first glance. Reports of animals falling with rain, objects apparently dropping from clouds, or violent storms changing the landscape belong to a wider tradition of strange weather accounts found around the world. In Croatia, the strongest connection comes from the country’s storm-prone Adriatic coast, where waterspouts, sudden downpours and powerful convective storms can create conditions that make unusual events seem almost unreal.[ScienceDirect]sciencedirect.comWaterspouts of the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Sea…by MV Sioutas · 2007 · Cited by 57 — The waterspouts were reported wit…
There is little reliable evidence for a confirmed Croatian case of “fish rain” or “frog rain” comparable to famous reports elsewhere. However, Croatia provides an excellent setting for understanding why such stories emerge: a warm sea, unstable weather systems, dramatic storms and a landscape where a rare event can quickly become a memorable local tale. The real mystery is often not whether nature has broken its rules, but how unfamiliar weather mechanisms can produce experiences that feel like they have.[The Library of Congress]loc.govThe Library of CongressCan it rain frogs, fish, and other objects?Many scientists believe tornadic waterspouts may be responsible for fro…
How storms can transport animals
When the sky appears to rain living creatures
“Animal falls” are among the strangest reported weather phenomena. They describe occasions when fish, frogs, small crustaceans or other animals are found scattered after a storm, leading witnesses to conclude that they have fallen from the sky. Similar reports have appeared in many countries over centuries, but the evidence varies greatly: some are carefully documented, while others survive mainly as newspaper stories or local traditions.[Wikipedia]WikipediaRain of animalsRain of animals
The leading explanation involves waterspouts and intense storm updrafts. A waterspout is a rotating column of air over water, similar in appearance to a tornado. Under the right conditions, strong winds and rising air can lift small animals from shallow coastal waters, ponds or flooded areas. If the storm weakens or changes direction, the material carried inside the circulation may fall elsewhere. Scientists consider this a plausible explanation for many reports of fish and frogs appearing after storms, although directly observing the complete transport process remains extremely difficult.[The Library of Congress]loc.govThe Library of CongressCan it rain frogs, fish, and other objects?Many scientists believe tornadic waterspouts may be responsible for fro…
Croatia’s geography makes this mechanism particularly relevant. The Adriatic Sea is well known for waterspout activity, especially during periods when warm sea temperatures meet unstable air masses. Research into Adriatic waterspouts has documented numerous events and found that the region regularly experiences both fair-weather waterspouts and more intense storm-related forms.[ScienceDirect]sciencedirect.comWaterspouts of the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Sea…by MV Sioutas · 2007 · Cited by 57 — The waterspouts were reported wit…
A storm over the Adriatic therefore creates the right ingredients for a genuinely strange-looking event: a visible funnel over the sea, powerful winds, sudden rainfall and the possibility of material being moved from one place to another. Even when no animals are involved, such storms can appear extraordinary enough to inspire folklore and speculation.
Reports of unusual falls and reactions
Croatia’s documented “strange weather” is mostly about storms
Although Croatia does not have a famous verified case of animals raining from the sky, the country has recorded many examples of unusual and dramatic weather that show why such stories are believable to witnesses.
Waterspouts are among the clearest examples. In January 2016, researchers examined a tornadic waterspout event in Split, analysing the atmospheric conditions that produced the phenomenon. The study linked the event to unstable weather conditions associated with frontal disturbances and favourable wind patterns.[DOAJ]doaj.orgTORNADIC WATERSPOUT EVENT IN SPLIT (CROATIA)The aim of this paper is the waterspout in Split (φ 43.51 °N, λ 16.45 E, h = 0 m) observe…
Another widely reported Adriatic event occurred near Split in August 2018, when several waterspouts formed along the Croatian coast, including a particularly large one near Podstrana. Photographs and eyewitness accounts showed a striking column extending between sea and cloud, turning a meteorological process into a scene that looked almost supernatural.[Severe Weather Europe]severe-weather.euSevere Weather Europe Enormous waterspout near Split, CroatiaSevere Weather EuropeEnormous waterspout near Split, Croatia - August 26, 201827 Aug 2018 — Numerous waterspouts were reported along the…
Severe hailstorms provide another example of nature creating “impossible” scenes. In 2023, a powerful storm system affected parts of the northern Balkans, including eastern Croatia, producing hailstones up to around 7 centimetres in diameter and causing damage along its path.[essl.org]essl.orgcm in diameter with most damage…Read more… In another severe event affecting Karlovac, reports described exceptionally large hail, with witness accounts of hailstones reaching around 13 centimetres.[EUMETSAT User Portal]user.eumetsat.intThe size of hail was up to 13cm, according to witness reports.Read moreEUMETSAT User PortalDestructive convective storms in SE Europe19 Jul 2023 — In Karlovac, in west Croatia, large hail damaged many roofs…
To someone caught beneath such a storm, the experience can feel disconnected from normal weather expectations. Large pieces of ice falling from clear-looking skies, swirling clouds over the sea or debris appearing after a storm can easily become the basis of unusual stories.
Why animal-fall stories spread so easily
Animal falls occupy an interesting middle ground between science and folklore. They are unusual enough to attract attention but often leave gaps in the evidence. A person who discovers fish, frogs or other small animals after a storm may reasonably describe what they saw, while the later interpretation — “they fell from the sky” — becomes a separate question.
Several factors make these reports memorable:
- The timing: the animals are often discovered immediately after heavy rain or storms.[Wikipedia]WikipediaRain of animalsRain of animals
- The location: coastal and wetland environments naturally contain many small animals that could potentially be moved by water or wind.
- The visual shock: finding dozens of creatures where none were expected creates a powerful impression.
- The storytelling effect: unusual weather events are often repeated through newspapers, conversations and local memory.
International examples show the pattern. The Library of Congress notes that many scientists consider tornadic waterspouts a possible explanation for reports of frogs and fish falling with storms.[The Library of Congress]loc.govThe Library of CongressCan it rain frogs, fish, and other objects?Many scientists believe tornadic waterspouts may be responsible for fro… However, individual cases still need investigation because alternative explanations, such as animals being moved by floods, birds dropping prey, or ordinary storm damage, can sometimes fit the evidence better.[Wikipedia]WikipediaRain of animalsRain of animals
Science behind rare natural events
The Adriatic as a laboratory for strange weather
Croatia’s coastline is an ideal place to study dramatic weather because it combines a warm enclosed sea with complex coastal terrain. Mountains rise close to the Adriatic, while weather systems moving across the region can create sharp contrasts in temperature and pressure.
Waterspouts are especially important to the Croatian strange-weather record because they demonstrate how familiar physical processes can look extraordinary. A rotating column of air over the sea may appear like a bridge between ocean and cloud, yet it is governed by the same atmospheric principles as other severe storms. Research on eastern Adriatic waterspout forecasting has examined how instability, wind changes with height and local conditions contribute to their formation.[Springer]link.springer.comWaterspout Forecasting Method Over the Eastern AdriaticWaterspout Forecasting Method Over the Eastern Adriatic…July 7, 2019 — by T Renko · 2019 · Cited by 17 — In this study, a syno…
This helps explain why reports of unusual falls should not immediately be treated as evidence of something unexplained. The atmosphere is capable of moving water, ice, dust, plants and occasionally small animals in ways that humans rarely witness directly.
Strange weather without supernatural causes
Fortean interest in these events comes from the tension between appearance and explanation. A storm that seems to violate common sense often turns out to reveal something unfamiliar about natural systems.
For Croatia, the most valuable lesson from unusual weather reports is not that the country has proven cases of impossible events, but that its environment regularly produces conditions where the impossible-looking can happen. A waterspout near an island, giant hail after a summer storm, or an unexpected object carried by violent winds all show the same pattern: nature can be surprising without needing to break natural laws.
The enduring appeal of these stories comes from that uncertainty. Before investigation, a strange fall from the sky can look like a mystery. After investigation, it often becomes something equally fascinating — a rare example of how powerful and complicated ordinary weather can be.
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to When Croatia's Weather Creates Impossible Scenes. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The Cloudspotter's Guide
Connects everyday sky observations with scientific explanations.
The Mothman Prophecies
First published 1975. Subjects: Unidentified flying objects, Curiosities and wonders, Human-alien encounters, Sightings and encounters, U...
The weather detective
First published 2018. Subjects: Miscellanea, Weather, Popular works, Nature, Weather forecasting.
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.
Endnotes
1.
Source: sciencedirect.com
Link:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016980950600127X
Source snippet
Waterspouts of the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Sea...by MV Sioutas · 2007 · Cited by 57 — The waterspouts were reported wit...
2.
Source: severe-weather.eu
Title: Severe Weather Europe Enormous waterspout near Split, Croatia
Link:https://www.severe-weather.eu/recent-events/enormous-waterspout-near-split-croatia-august-26-2018/
Source snippet
Severe Weather EuropeEnormous waterspout near Split, Croatia - August 26, 201827 Aug 2018 — Numerous waterspouts were reported along the...
3.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Rain of animals
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_of_animals
4.
Source: doaj.org
Link:https://doaj.org/article/afb95dca747c4fd58245438a40fad267
Source snippet
TORNADIC WATERSPOUT EVENT IN SPLIT (CROATIA)The aim of this paper is the waterspout in Split (φ 43.51 °N, λ 16.45 E, h = 0 m) observe...
5.
Source: essl.org
Link:https://www.essl.org/cms/author/tomas/
Source snippet
cm in diameter with most damage...Read more...
6.
Source: user.eumetsat.int
Title: The size of hail was up to 13cm, according to witness reports.Read more
Link:https://user.eumetsat.int/resources/case-studies/destructive-convective-storms-in-se-europe
Source snippet
EUMETSAT User PortalDestructive convective storms in SE Europe19 Jul 2023 — In Karlovac, in west Croatia, large hail damaged many roofs...
7.
Source: link.springer.com
Title: Waterspout Forecasting Method Over the Eastern Adriatic
Link:https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-11958
Source snippet
Waterspout Forecasting Method Over the Eastern Adriatic...July 7, 2019 — by T Renko · 2019 · Cited by 17 — In this study, a syno...
Published: July 7, 2019
8.
Source: Wikipedia
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal
Source snippet
AnimalAnimals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms belonging to the biological kingdom Animalia With few exceptions, animals consum...
9.
Source: loc.gov
Link:https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/meteorology-climatology/item/can-it-rain-frogs-fish-and-other-objects/
Source snippet
The Library of CongressCan it rain frogs, fish, and other objects?Many scientists believe tornadic waterspouts may be responsible for fro...
10.
Source: loc.gov
Link:https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/browse-all-questions/item/can-it-rain-frogs-fish-and-other-objects/
Source snippet
ccording to Complete Weather Resource (1997), “a tornadic...Read more...
11.
Source: blog.pensoft.net
Link:https://blog.pensoft.net/tag/frog/
Source snippet
pensoft.netTag: frog - Pensoft blogWith more than 470 species, the directly developing rain frogs of the genus Pristimantiscontinue to su...
Additional References
12.
Source: watchers.news
Link:https://watchers.news/2026/05/11/severe-storms-continue-adriatic-into-balkans-level-2-risk-shifts-toward-bulgaria-romania-nw-turkey/
Source snippet
Severe storms continue from the Adriatic into the Balkans...11 May 2026 — Severe thunderstorms continued across parts of northern Italy...
Published: May 2026
13.
Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308042882Tornadic_waterspout_event_in_Split_Croatia-_analysis_of_meteorological_environment
Source snippet
(PDF) Tornadic waterspout event in Split (Croatia)3 Jan 2026 — There was an intense thermodynamic instability in lower and mid layers of...
14.
Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHz6Wlc2MAI
Source snippet
Why Frogs Sometimes Fall From the SkyMost scientists and meteorologists think that these animals come waterspouts tornadoes over open wat...
15.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/335167027993583/posts/1038942304282715/
Source snippet
A growing nocturnal cluster of organized multicells and a few supercells is forecast with severe gusts...Read more...
16.
Source: glashrvatske.hrt.hr
Title: hr Spring storm sweeps Croatia with hail, flooding and snow
Link:https://glashrvatske.hrt.hr/en/domestic/spring-storm-sweeps-croatia-with-hail-flooding-and-snow-12715671
Source snippet
storm sweeps Croatia with hail, flooding and snow - HRT12 May 2026 — A powerful storm swept across large parts of Croatia on Tuesday, bri...
Published: May 2026
17.
Source: earthscience.stackexchange.com
Title: I found quite a few articles on line with many instances
Link:https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/13473/is-there-any-video-evidence-of-animals-raining-from-the-sky
Source snippet
there any video evidence of animals raining from the sky?27 Feb 2018 — I image most people have heard stories of fish, frogs, or other sm...
18.
Source: newsweek.com
Link:https://www.newsweek.com/raining-fish-explained-storm-brings-fish-falling-sky-texas-1664747
Source snippet
'Raining Fish' Explained: Fish Falling From Sky in Rare...31 Dec 2021 — However, animal rain more commonly happens as a result of waters...
19.
Source: newsday.com
Title: balkans weather croatia storm fires serbia split u39779
Link:https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/balkans-weather-croatia-storm-fires-serbia-split-u39779
Source snippet
Storms and fires hit Balkan countries following a period of...8 Jul 2025 — A severe hail storm ripped up trees and roofs in Croatia on T...
20.
Source: croatiaunscripted.com
Link:https://croatiaunscripted.com/sudden-thunderstorms-hit-croatia/
Source snippet
day evening, bringing torrential rain, frequent lightning, hail and...Read more...
21.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/totalcroatianews/posts/the-noble-pen-shell-or-periska-in-croatian-has-been-spotted-in-the-mouth-of-the-/2945772579039893/
Source snippet
providing shelter and protection for small fish, crustaceans, and...Read more...
Topic Tree