Additional Coverage:
A powerful sonic boom shook South Carolina on Thursday evening, with the sound reportedly heard as far as 100 miles away. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the disturbance was caused by a sonic boom rather than an earthquake.
The blast originated near St. Andrews/Columbia at approximately 5:24 p.m., and its effects were felt across a wide radius. Early reports noted that the boom’s extensive reach was unusual for a typical jet sonic boom, leading meteorologists to speculate that it might have been caused by space debris re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Fortunately, no injuries or damage have been reported. Many residents captured the sharp noise on doorbell and security cameras, with videos circulating on social media showing homes and vehicles visibly rattling from the impact.
In an official statement, the USGS clarified, “This event is not an earthquake. The recorded waves and eyewitness accounts align with a sonic boom.
Since earthquake magnitude scales are designed for seismic waves traveling through the Earth, those methods do not apply here.” The agency assigned a manual magnitude of 0.0 and noted that the location and timing were approximated based on sound wave arrival times and eyewitness reports.
A sonic boom is characterized by an explosive, thunder-like noise generated when an object-such as an aircraft or spacecraft-travels faster than the speed of sound, creating shock waves.
This event arrives amid heightened meteorological concerns, as forecasters have increased the probability of an El Niño developing in the coming months to 82%, with a 37% chance it will be classified as “very strong.” This outlook has particular significance for Southern California residents, who recall the devastating 1997-98 El Niño season that caused widespread flooding, extensive damage, and loss of life.
If these forecasts hold true, the upcoming El Niño would be only the fourth “very strong” event in the past 50 years. Strong El Niño conditions typically bring heavier rainfall to the usually dry state, potentially shifting the subtropical jet stream and intensifying precipitation. This warning comes as California battles a large wildfire that has already scorched over 180 acres, prompting evacuation orders in the affected region.