Greater Boston was startled just after 2 p.m. Saturday when a deep, rolling boom echoed across the region, rattling windows and shaking homes. Though it lasted only a few seconds, the sound was strong enough to send confused residents outside wondering what had caused it.
Viewers who contacted local TV stations described a sudden, powerful blast. One Newtonville resident said it “set off the dog and made me think a big tree had come down,” while others reported houses shaking, as reported by WCVB. The station noted that calls clustered just after 2 p.m. and said it had reached out to state officials and the U.S. Geological Survey to determine whether the noise came from an explosion, an earthquake or some kind of atmospheric event. As of that report, no cause had been confirmed.
Where People Heard It
The boom was reported across a wide swath of communities, from Scituate to Winchester and from Cambridge to Lynnfield, according to The Boston Globe. Boston police told callers they were dispatching units toward Brighton after numerous 911 calls about the noise. Fire and police departments in several suburbs said they were also inundated with calls but had not turned up any sign of an actual explosion on the ground.
Possible Explanations
Officials have not yet announced a cause. When a mystery boom hits, investigators typically start by looking at things like local industrial explosions, transformer failures, aircraft activity and natural events.
Scientists and meteor observers also point out that meteors or “airbursts” can generate sudden sonic booms and pressure waves that rattle homes without leaving obvious damage or ground tremors. A similar house shaking boom in South Carolina was investigated as a likely meteor airburst, according to local station WMBF.
How To Report What You Captured
Local stations and officials are asking anyone who caught the boom on video, audio or a doorbell camera to share what they have so investigators can better triangulate the source. WCVB is specifically asking viewers to send clips to its newsroom.
If you felt strong shaking or notice structural damage, you should contact your town’s emergency services. Otherwise, hang on to any recordings, keep timestamps and metadata intact and consider submitting them through official tips pages so investigators can review the material.
State and federal agencies have been alerted, and investigators say they will release updates as more data become available, including seismic records, satellite observations and additional video. We will update this post when officials share new findings or confirm a cause.
