Meteor Causes Sonic Boom Off Massachusetts Coast

A meteor explosion occurred off the coast of Massachusetts, causing a loud boom heard across the state on Saturday afternoon. WBZ-TV’s chief meteorologist Eric Fisher reported the boom happened around 2:11 p.m. Eastern Time. The noise startled many, rattled windows, and even shook some homes. Reports of the sound poured into the WBZ-TV newsroom from Boston, Ipswich, and as far as Johnston, Rhode Island.

The American Meteor Society received preliminary reports of sightings from across the Northeast. Observers witnessed a fireball around 2 p.m. Saturday, observed across several states. This helped scientists trace the meteor’s path through the atmosphere. Satellite lightning data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed a meteor’s presence at that time. The data indicated that the meteor likely entered over the South Shore near Boston. No specific landing site for the meteor has been reported.

Meteors often burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere. However, larger ones can create bright fireballs and cause shock waves that draw attention. NOAA maps provided information on where the meteor entered the atmosphere.

Understanding Meteor Sonic Booms

The loud boom on Saturday might prompt questions about how space rocks generate such noise. Meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds ranging from 25,000 to 160,000 miles per hour. Usually, they are tiny, like pebbles or grains of sand, and burn up harmlessly far above us.

Occasionally, a significant meteor survives longer, penetrating deeper into the atmosphere. As it travels, it creates intense shock waves, similar to those of a supersonic jet. These pressure waves reach the ground as a sonic boom, often heard miles away from the meteor’s trajectory. Hence, many people might hear a loud bang even without seeing the fireball.

Other Meteor Events in 2026

The recent event follows several high-profile fireballs across North America this year. In March, a meteor over Ohio produced a sonic boom audible in multiple states. Days later, another fireball over Texas created a shock wave impact scattering meteorites in the Houston area, with one piece reportedly piercing a home’s roof.

The American Meteor Society has noted an unusual rise in large fireball events and sonic booms at the start of 2026. The Massachusetts incident came shortly after residents in South Carolina reported a loud blast they first thought was an earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey later suggested the blast was a sonic boom, although its source remains unclear.

Researchers emphasize that no evidence suggests a threat of meteor impacts on Earth.