A loud boom was heard across Northeast Ohio on March 17, 2026, startling residents and rattling windows. The National Weather Service (NWS) indicated that the sound was likely caused by a meteorite breaking the sound barrier, which occurs at a speed of 767 mph. Reports of the boom were received as far away as New York and Pennsylvania, with many residents describing the experience as unsettling.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m., and the NWS in Cleveland confirmed the phenomenon, with meteorologist Betsy Kling stating, “The National Weather Service in Cleveland says we heard and felt a SONIC BOOM from a meteor coming in!” Additionally, the NWS utilized a geostationary lightning mapper to detect the meteor, which was also reported as a fireball in the sky.
While the meteor incident was alarming, investigations are concurrently underway regarding an explosion in Weirton, West Virginia. Multiple propane tanks exploded inside a trailer on Kings Creek Road, resulting from a man leaving a running generator unattended. Local authorities are emphasizing the dangers of unattended generators, with Alex Hamilton advising, “Don’t leave generators unattended; they could get hot and something like this could happen.” Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries related to either incident.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact time when the meteor entered the atmosphere, and more information about the meteor itself was not immediately available. This incident follows a pattern of meteors being observed in Ohio’s skies in recent weeks, raising public interest and concern about such occurrences.
