12 Atmospheric Phenomena That Seem Supernatural

On July 23, 2024, a massive dust storm combined with heavy rains created havoc in Phoenix. As a result, thousands lost power, and the city was thrown into turmoil. It made us realize just how wild weather can get, and sometimes, it seems like many of the storms we experience come right out of movies and science fiction. We found a list of these amazing storms and think you’ll be amazed by these atmospheric phenomena that seem supernatural.

There are many forms of crazy weather on this list. There’s ball lighting, which looks like it was zapped into existence by Harry Potter. Look up into the sky, and you’ll see other amazing weather in the clouds, including some that can predict thunderstorms. Amongst the most perplexing types of weather are different rainstorms that include blood rain and fish rain, which are exactly as they sound. While all of these phenomena have some type of scientific explanation, it’s still hard to believe when you see them with your own eyes.

To find and learn about the atmospheric phenomena that seem supernatural, 24/7 Tempo checked many scientific and weather-related sources, including The Weather Channel, NOAA SciJinks, AccuWeather, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and more. It’s crazy to think about the type of weather our natural world can create, and we know you’ll be amazed. (To learn about other wild weather that seems too supernatural to believe, check out this story of the deadly derecho that left a trail of destruction in the Midwest .)

Ball Lightning

The first awe-inspiring atmospheric phenomenon is ball lightning, which is as it sounds. When you see it, you’ll see lightning that looks like a glowing orb that appears for a few seconds and then disappears. The balls can appear in the sky or they can hover across the water of a lake. In some cases, ball lightning has even gone into homes through doors and windows. Sometimes, the lightning vanishes with a bang. Many people believe that ball lightning is ghosts or spirits. While the real science behind ball lightning is unclear, it’s really just another form of lightning.

Mammatus Clouds

Some of the strangest weather phenomena you’ll see in the skies are Mammatus clouds. These clouds get that name because they often resemble cow’s udders. They seem to be hanging clouds that look like they’re upside down, and they’re very unique and supernatural in appearance. Many meteorologists believe they predict that a thunderstorm is near. The clouds are formed after moist and cool air sinks into dry and warm air. The process leads to water vapor, so the clouds last longer than usual because it takes longer for the vapor to evaporate. While it’s rather scientific, it seems more like science fiction.

Cloudbursts

One of the wildest and rarest but most dangerous atmospheric phenomena you can come across is the cloudburst. Often found in mountainous regions and common in places like India and Himachal, cloudbursts are sudden and extremely violent rushes of air followed by a quick blast of extreme rainfall. This type of storm is very brief but if you’re caught in it, it could mean sudden death. It seems like violent and unexpected storms are things you’d see in a horror movie. However, they’re real, so beware.

Morning Glory Cloud

If you find yourself in northern Australia and the Gulf of Carpentaria, look up at the sky and you may see the incredible morning glory cloud. These are long roll clouds that seem to stretch from horizon to horizon. The clouds are so rare that you may think you’re seeing something wildly supernatural, but there is an explanation. Scientists believe that they occur due to a combination of sea breezes from opposite coasts, temperature differences between sea and land, and the placement of the air. They look like alien-made tunnels in the sky.

Stormquake

This wild atmospheric phenomenon is one of the last things you’d want to see when you’re going deep-sea diving. You might think you’re in the middle of a scary movie. Stormquakes aren’t often seen in person but they’re scary. They occur when hurricanes create an earthquake of sorts that causes major vibrations on the ocean floor. Some of these stormquakes are equal to an earthquake on land. The stormquakes can last anywhere from a few hours to a number of days, and they’re straight out of science fiction.

Lenticular Clouds

Most science fiction movies show UFOs as flat and round like a flying saucer. If you didn’t know any better, you would look up at the sky and think that lenticular clouds were from outer space. Instead, they have a perfectly reasonable explanation. When air rises and then cools, it condenses into a cloud that has that saucer-like shape. Even on the windiest days, the clouds don’t move because they form where airflow keeps them in place. Eventually, they fade away. The clouds are stunning when the light hits them just right and they’re covered in brilliant colors.

Frost Flowers

One of the most amazing sights is flowers made of ice. These intricate and gorgeous formations occur when the air is colder than the ground. The plant’s stem starts to freeze and crack, and then the sap leaks. The sap freezes when it makes contact with the air, which creates thin layers of ice that twist and curl into unique shapes. The weather conditions need to be just right, which is why you don’t see frost flowers that often. If someone wasn’t aware of them, they might think they fell asleep and woke up on a crazy ice planet.

Space Hurricane

One of the craziest atmospheric phenomena that you may never see in person is the mysterious space hurricane. These wild storms take place over the polar regions of the Earth. The hurricanes are created around charged particles in the ionosphere, and they are much larger than the hurricanes found on the planet’s surface. It seems like something you’d only see in “Star Wars” or “Star Trek,” but they are real.

Dust Storms

Many people have heard of dust storms but seeing one in person is a whole other story. If you see one coming towards you or see one building up on the side of the road, you’ll think you’ve been sucked into a wild movie like “The Mummy.” However, this unique atmospheric phenomenon is formed when strong winds, which are often triggered by thunderstorms, pick up dust and create large clouds that travel near the ground. Dust storms are often found in North Africa and the Middle East, but can develop in other parts of the world, and they’re quite frightening.

Blood Rain

Perhaps the wildest atmospheric phenomenon you’ll experience is the falling of blood rain. As the rain falls and hits objects, it appears to have a reddish tint. It can seem like something out of the Book of Revelation. However, though it looks supernatural, there’s actually a perfectly natural explanation. The blood rain that’s been spotted in India, Spain, and other parts of the world is caused by red algae that is swept up into the atmosphere and then gets mixed in with the falling droplets. Some scientists also believe it’s rain mixed with dust that originates from the Sahara Desert.

Fish Rain

Perhaps even more wild than blood rain is fish rain. That’s where fish of all types seem to fall from the sky. The phenomenon has been seen all over the world, from Honduras to Australia. It’s the last thing you’d ever imagine falling from the air. The first time you see it, you’re destined to think it’s supernatural. However, as wild as it sounds, fish rain occurs when strong winds that are equal to tornadic waterspouts pick up fish from oceans and lakes and then drop them elsewhere. This happens so often in Honduras that they have an annual festival.

Waterspouts

While tornadic waterspouts are a contributing factor to fish rain, this aqua-based weather phenomenon is pretty supernatural on its own. Imagine being at the beach or swimming in the ocean when all of a sudden you see a tornado made of water coming at you. Waterspouts are strong enough to pick up fish and small animals and throw them far away. It’s a wild and scary weather sight that looks like it came straight out of the movie “Interstellar.” (Learn more about waterspouts on this list of the extreme weather phenomena you didn’t know existed .)

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