A loud sonic boom that startled residents across parts of New England on Saturday afternoon was likely caused by a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere, according to meteorologists.

Police departments in Massachusetts received numerous reports of a powerful explosion-like sound, prompting concern among residents who also reported feeling their homes shake.

Meteorologist Pamela Gardner indicated that satellite data from the GOES-19 weather satellite suggested the presence of a meteor or bolide—an object that explodes as it travels through the atmosphere.She noted that there was no lightning activity or seismic event recorded at the time, ruling out thunderstorms and earthquakes as possible causes.

WBZ-TV Chief Meteorologist Eric Fisher supported this explanation, explaining that meteors can appear in lightning detection systems because their atmospheric entry produces similar energy signatures.He pointed to lightning-mapping satellite data that helped identify the likely path of the object.Local authorities confirmed that the boom was widely felt across the region but reported no injuries or property damage.Wrentham Police Chief Bill McGrath stated that while the incident alarmed many residents, there were no known harmful consequences.

The American Meteorological Society explains that meteors can travel at extremely high speeds—between 25,000 and 160,000 miles per hour—and may generate sonic booms if they penetrate deep enough into the atmosphere.It remains unclear whether the meteor fully disintegrated before reaching the ground.A similar unexplained sonic boom was reported earlier in the week in the Carolinas, although its origin has not yet been confirmed.Authorities continue to monitor such events, which, while dramatic, are typically harmless.