A powerful sonic boom rattled homes across Boston and parts of Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon, with meteorologists suggesting the noise may have been caused by a bolide meteor entering the atmosphere east of the city. The sound was reported at about 2:30 p.m. EDT, and residents described a sharp blast that left some people wondering whether an explosion had taken place.
The reports began after a bright flash was detected by NOAA's GOES-19 lightning mapping system, with spaceflight meteorologist Nick Stewart arguing on X that the signal did not match active thunderstorms. He said the flash was 'pretty distinctive of a bolide/meteor reentry' and identified it as the likely source of the loud boom heard across the region.
