A rumor that red rain fell in Branson, Missouri, circulated online in October 2025. For example, social media account Branson Area Breaking News posted alleged video footage (archived) of the incident. The post's caption read:
A strange weather phenomenon shocked Branson residents this afternoon as bright red rain visibly poured from the sky, coating cars, streets, and parking lots across town. Officials have not yet explained what caused the unusual rainfall.
Variations of the rumor spread on TikTok (archived) and YouTube (archived), as well, and one post claimed the footage depicted North Carolina, not Missouri.
Some readers seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. However, there was no evidence of red rain falling in Missouri. A Google search revealed only results related to the claim; if it were legitimate, reputable news outlets would have reported on the phenomenon.
(Google.com)
While "red rain" or "dirty rain" is an observed phenomenon in Missouri, as evidence by local news outlets' reporting on one of the effects of drought, the footage in question depicted the rain as bright, vivid red, and was entirely fake. The rumor about red rain originated with Branson Area Breaking News — a social media account that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. Its bio states:
We are a world renowned satirical news organization & have received many awards for our breaking news stories! ***All content on our page is original***
Branson Area Breaking News has a history of making up stories for shares and comments, relying on artificial-intelligence software to do its storytelling. The video of the supposed red rain had telltale signs of being generated by AI, including unnatural textures and garbled letters on street signs.
Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims stemming from Branson Area Breaking News in the past, including the assertion that bald eagles blocked a Missouri highway and a rumor that McDonald's opened its first all-you-can-eat buffet in Branson.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.