Residents of Ondo State welcomed the new year with an unusual weather event on Thursday evening, as a heavy rainfall accompanied by ice fell across parts of the city on 1 January 2026, sparking curiosity, conversation, and reflection.

The rainfall, which began around 6:00pm and lasted for about an hour, occurred on the first day of the year—an experience many residents described as rare.

Interpreting the moment from a faith perspective, Pastor Sunday Otete, Group Pastor of Deeper Life Bible Church, Beulah, described the event as symbolic, saying it signified hope and renewal for the year ahead.

Speaking during the church’s weekly revival service, held on the first Thursday of the year at Agiodo, Pastor Otete told congregants that 2026 would be “distinct”, urging believers to expect positive change and spiritual breakthroughs.

He described the rain as “refreshing” and “comforting,” noting that it came not as a light drizzle but as a sustained downpour, which he said carried symbolic meaning for worshippers.

Quoting from the Book of Isaiah 43:19, he said the weather event aligned with a message of renewal and transformation.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth… I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert,” he read.

Pastor Otete told the congregation that experiencing such rainfall, particularly with ice, on the first day of the year was uncommon, and he interpreted it as a sign of relief and abundance following periods of heat and difficulty.

He later encouraged believers to remain steadfast in faith, urging them to prioritize what he described as the “true way” to prosperity, adding that biblical figures of old were not disappointed in their trust in God.

Referencing Genesis 30:37–39, he spoke about fruitfulness and wisdom experienced by Jacob, drawing parallels between the biblical account and expectations for the new year.

The service concluded with prayers for the congregation, as the cleric described the year ahead as one marked by divine initiative.

“God has started a new thing,” he said, adding that such acts, in his view, were beyond human control. The unusual rainfall has continued to generate discussion among residents, blending meteorological curiosity with spiritual interpretation.