On February 18, 1989, snow fell in the Sahara Desert. But it wasn't the first, or last, odd weather occurrence to shock the world. We reveal more instances of meteorological mayhem.
Living in the UK makes it easy to gripe about weather inconsistency. One moment its sunny, the next its raining, and before you know it, there are eight inches of snow at your feet.
While these instances of supposed randomness may be annoying, theyve come to be expected. The peculiarities of the British climate may seem inconvenient but they pale in comparison to some weird weather events experienced around the world.
If you find yourself fretting when the weather takes an unexpected turn, consider this: 20 years ago, on February 18, 1989, snow fell on the Sahara Desert for the first time in recorded history. Yes, the same place where rain is about as scarce as a successful British bank. The snow storm occurred in Southern Algeria and lasted for 30 minutes, managing to stick for a few hours before melting into the sand-covered abyss.
As the Sahara celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first snowfall, MSN remembers several other oddball weather moments, many of which took place here in the UK.
Over a hundred years ago, the small town of Bovina, Mississippi was delivered a large surprise during an otherwise routine hail storm. Among the clusters of ice that fell from the sky was an unusually large, frozen block containing none other than a six-by-eight-inch turtle.
To say its raining cats and dogs is an exaggeration, but to say its raining amphibians, isnt entirely unprecedented. This was the case in 1939, when tiny frogs showered over Wiltshire, England. How did frogs ascend into the sky to begin with? It is believed they can be *u*ked up by extremely powerful updrafts, tornadoes, or waterspouts. As recently as 1998, frog falls have been reported in Llanddewi, Wales and Croydon, south London.
Acapulco, Mexico has a tight grip on the award for most grotesque weather incident in recent memory. In 1967, live maggots descended on the city during a heavy storm. As if that wasnt bad enough, this all took place during the otherwise classy annual yachting Olympics much to the horror of all involved.
In 1968, water adopted an unusual hue, falling as red rain across southern England. The *lo**-coloured droplets were the results of rain clouds mingling with red sand that had travelled 1,000 miles from the Sahara Desert in Africa.
There are people in this world who work very hard extracting coal, but for one day in 1983 their services were unnecessary. Coal rained down upon Dorset, England, causing headaches quite literally for the regions sailors as much of the coal fell into the nearby waters.
If meteorological records are anything to go by, fish are prolific skydivers. In 2000, bushels of two-inch-long fish fell from the skies above Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. These fish had been plucked from their homes in the sea by a mini-tornado more than a mile offshore, hanging suspended in the gathering rainclouds until they burst.
2007: Worms fall from the sky in Jennings, Louisiana
If youre more than slightly squeamish disposition, you might want to stop reading now. In 2007, the skies above Jennings, Louisiana unexpectedly deposited worms on residents heads. Its thought a large water spout a few miles down the road had *u*ked them right out of the soil, resulting in the unlikely not to mention unpleasant downpour.
Nico-T said
10:31 02/18 2009
***NICO-T SPEAKZ***
WONDER IF A SIGN THAT GOD A COME SOON
The world's oddest weather events
Living in the UK makes it easy to gripe about weather inconsistency. One moment its sunny, the next its raining, and before you know it, there are eight inches of snow at your feet.
While these instances of supposed randomness may be annoying, theyve come to be expected. The peculiarities of the British climate may seem inconvenient but they pale in comparison to some weird weather events experienced around the world.
If you find yourself fretting when the weather takes an unexpected turn, consider this: 20 years ago, on February 18, 1989, snow fell on the Sahara Desert for the first time in recorded history. Yes, the same place where rain is about as scarce as a successful British bank. The snow storm occurred in Southern Algeria and lasted for 30 minutes, managing to stick for a few hours before melting into the sand-covered abyss.
As the Sahara celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first snowfall, MSN remembers several other oddball weather moments, many of which took place here in the UK.
So before you describe a sharp temperature drop as random weather, take a look at these wild weather instances.
1894: A hail storm in Bovina, Mississippi delivers a six-by-eight-inch ice-encased turtle
1939: It rains frogs in Wiltshire
1967: maggots in Acapulco
1968: red rain falls across southern England
1983: lumps of coal rain down upon Dorset
2000: fish rain down upon Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
2007: Worms fall from the sky in Jennings, Louisiana