Forecast warns of shower of frogs

22 May 2006 06:05

This may be the summer of drought - but instead of rain over the next few months people in Yarmouth have been told to brace themselves for a downpour of … frogs.

That is the unusual conclusion of a senior weather forecaster who has labelled the resort as the most likely spot for a downpour of BFOs - bizarre falling objects.

The town was showered in two-inch sprats in August 2000 while other BFO outbreaks recorded around the country in previous centuries include larger fish, tomatoes and even coal.

Recent changeable weather conditions such as storms, droughts and sudden downpours have vastly increased the chances of objects falling from the sky, according to Jim Dale, of British Weather Services, who says they can be caused by heat and air pressure coupled with atmospheric instability.

He has been studying BFOs for a new report and has concluded that outbreaks could occur in east Manchester, Ipswich - but are most likely in Yarmouth.

He told the EDP: “People may be surprised to hear this happens but while it might be unusual it really does.

“We've spent some time looking into where this phenomenon could occur and homed in on the east and south east, before finally settling on Yarmouth.

“You need converging air, warm land mass, instances of lightning and thunderstorms and chances of tornadoes - and Yarmouth has that all more than anywhere else in Europe.”

Tornados created from thunderstorms can whisk up objects in their path, such as fish from the sea, frogs from a pond or tomatoes from a field, carry them along in clouds and dump them up to two miles away.

Mr Dale said: “With this week being as unusual as it's going to be all summer in terms of changing weather patterns, it's a great recipe for things being sucked up and then deposited.”

The claim was yesterday met with scepticism in the town - but officials said it was best to be safe than sorry.

Bert Collins, chairman of Yarmouth Tourism Authority, said: “It seems remarkable to me. There's something slightly fishy about this.

“It would be unique - though I'm not sure our famous Mile would be so golden if it was covered in frogs.”

John Hemsworth, head of Yarmouth environmental health, added: “Yarmouth is always open to new experiences but as it's a natural phenomenon there's not a lot we can do to plan for it - save to remind people to bring an extra-strong umbrella!”

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