Opposite residents Massachusetts and part rhode island A powerful roar echoed across the area on Saturday afternoon, surprising people. The sound, described by many as an explosion-like noise, was reported around 2:30 p.m. ET and could be heard throughout the Boston area and beyond. The incident sparked a swift reaction, with some locals wondering whether it was related to earthquakes, thunderstorm activity or military aircraft.
Meteorologists point to possible meteor event
Weather experts soon began examining satellite data and identified what appeared to be an unusual atmospheric event near the Massachusetts coastline. Space meteorologist Nick Stewart was one of the first to suggest a possible explanation.
Stewart wrote on the platform
He later shared more analysis after reviewing satellite imagery.
“The flash density product does show this unusual ‘flash,’ which is very unique to bolide/meteor re-entries east of Boston. This may be the source of the loud noise/explosion,” he said in the update.
Satellite data reveals unusual atmospheric flashes
Meteorologists noted that satellite sensors detected a bright flash east of Boston around the same time residents reported hearing explosions.
NBC10 Meteorologist Pamela Gardner also noted that the most likely cause is a meteor or bolide entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
“Big bang/boom around Boston,” she wrote on the X. “GOES 19’s GLM shows possible meteor or bolide entry into the atmosphere. There is no lightning in the current storm and no USGS earthquakes.”
The absence of lightning activity and the absence of any earthquake detections strengthens the meteor theory.
The chief meteorologist gives the latest explanation
Additional analysis by local meteorological experts further supports the explanation of atmospheric events.
WBZ-TV chief meteorologist Eric Fisher said satellite data suggested a meteor may have entered the atmosphere near the South Shore area outside Boston.
Fisher reported fielding dozens of calls from residents who heard explosions, with reports stretching from Boston to communities as far north as Ipswich.
The meteor is believed to have exploded in the ocean off the coast of Massachusetts, creating a shock wave powerful enough to be heard across much of New England.
What is a bolide?
A bolide is an unusually bright meteor that explodes or shatters as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. These events can produce powerful flashes of light that are visible over long distances, and can also create sonic booms or shock waves that rattle windows and scare residents above ground.
Because the explosion occurs high in the atmosphere, a delayed explosion is often heard shortly after the flash.
The mystery is largely solved, but the investigation continues
Although no official government agency has made a final decision, meteorologists reviewing satellite observations appear increasingly convinced that meteor explosions are the cause of the loud noises heard in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
For now, experts say evidence points to a major bolide event rather than an earthquake, thunderstorm or other terrestrial explosion.
