A loud boom was reportedly felt and heard across Alabama on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports.
According to AL.com, Birmingham area law enforcement agencies said they got reports of the boom. The St. Clair County EMA also received reports.
Re: loud boom heard: we do not see anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS indicating an earthquake. We don't have an answer, and can only hypothesize with you. 1) sonic boom from aircraft; 2) meteorite w/ current Leonid shower?
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) November 14, 2017
Areas that experienced it include Arab, Oxford, Anniston, Hayden, Kimberly, Center Point, Jasper, and Gardendale, the report stated.
The U.S. Geological Survey said that there’s no sign of an earthquake.
This was heard across multiple counties this afternoon… doesn’t appear to be related to a geological event https://t.co/34O9kGgjJH https://t.co/3fTtYDOies
— James Spann (@spann) November 14, 2017
“Reports of a loud sound coming from various parts of the county,” St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency said on Twitter. “We will post information as soon as it becomes available.”
The agency told AL.com that it might be a meteor re-entry.
“Has anyone heard a loud explosion in west Blount County?” Blount County 911 wrote on Twitter. “We’ve received several calls between Spunky Hollow Road and Cannons Crossing. Law enforcement is currently patrolling the area.”
ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann wrote on Twitter that the boom was “felt strongly across much of Jefferson, Blount, Walker, Cullman, Talladega, Clay, Winston and St. Clair Counties.” He called it the “Bama Boom.”
Still no explanation for the “Bama Boom” around 1:45p CT. Reports are from Blount, Jefferson, Walker, Cullman, Talladega, Calhoun, Clay, Winston, Randolph, Tuscaloosa, St. Clair counties.
No explanation from USGS, NOAA, or EMA. Waiting to hear back from NASA… possible meteor
— James Spann (@spann) November 14, 2017
NASA hasn’t confirmed whether or not it was a meteor.
