Massive Meteor Lights Up Cleveland Sky in Dramatic Display A massive meteor streaked across the sky over Cleveland on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, traveling at an astonishing speed of 72,420 kilometers per hour (45,000 miles per hour) before disintegrating in a powerful explosion. The event left residents in awe and concern, as the sudden, thunderous boom raised fears of a potential explosion. Witnesses from multiple states reported seeing the bright fireball, even though the sighting occurred in the early morning hours. The American Meteor Society documented reports spanning from Wisconsin to Maryland, confirming the meteor’s visibility across a wide area. NASA later confirmed the object was a meteor approximately 1.83 meters (6 feet) in diameter, describing it as a small asteroid entering Earth’s atmosphere. Carl Hergenrother, executive director of the American Meteor Society, noted that the meteor’s appearance as a fireball indicated it was likely a meteorite. He explained that while many objects reentering Earth’s atmosphere are satellites or debris, such events are typically not as bright as this one. The meteor’s trajectory was first observed about 80.4 kilometers (50 miles) above Lake Erie, near Lorain, and it traveled over 55 kilometers (34 miles) through the upper atmosphere before breaking apart over Valley City, north of Medina. The meteor’s fragmentation released energy equivalent to 250 tonnes of TNT, producing the loud boom that was felt by residents and even registered by the National Weather Service in Cleveland. Meteorologist Brian Mitchell noted that while some small fragments might have survived the atmospheric burn, most of the object likely disintegrated before reaching the ground.#national_weather_service #cleveland #american_meteor_society #carl_hergenrother #lake_erie
Meteor explodes with force of 250 tons of TNT, creates sonic boom over Ohio A massive meteor weighing nearly seven tons lit up the skies over the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday morning, exploding high above Ohio with an energy release equivalent to 250 tons of TNT, according to NASA. The space rock, estimated to be about six feet in diameter, entered Earth’s atmosphere at an astonishing speed of nearly 45,000 miles per hour. The dramatic event startled residents across several states, many of whom reported hearing a loud boom and feeling ground tremors. The intense fragmentation produced a bright fireball visible across at least 10 states, as well as Washington, DC, and parts of Ontario, Canada. Eyewitnesses described the spectacle as a blazing streak of light cutting across the sky shortly before 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Reports quickly flooded in from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, where several residents also heard a powerful sonic boom. Some initially mistook the sound for an explosion or earthquake. One Ohio resident told local media that the shockwave was strong enough to shake their entire house. NASA explained that the loud boom resulted from the meteor breaking apart in the atmosphere, generating a pressure wave that traveled down to the ground. Despite the dramatic nature of the event, experts say such explosions, known as bolides, are not uncommon, though they rarely occur over populated areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the object as a meteor and noted that it was detected using a geostationary lightning mapper, an instrument typically used to track lightning activity. The device identified a rapid atmospheric flash, similar to lightning, over the Cleveland area, capturing a distinctive green burst associated with the meteor’s breakup.#nasa #national_weather_service #pittsburgh #cleveland #jared_rackley
Rare Fireball Illuminates Eastern U.S. Skies with Sonic Boom A bright fireball, visible during daylight hours, streaked across the skies of the eastern United States on Tuesday morning, producing a sonic boom in parts of the region. The phenomenon, likely caused by a meteor burning through Earth’s atmosphere, was reported by observers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio around 9 a.m. ET. The event was notable for its intensity, as fireballs typically burn as bright or brighter than Venus, the third-brightest object in the night sky, according to NASA. The meteor’s rapid movement through the atmosphere triggered a loud boom in the Cleveland area, as it broke the sound barrier, the National Weather Service noted. The bright flash from the fireball was also detected by a satellite instrument usually designed to monitor lightning activity. Such daytime sightings are uncommon, as they require the fireball to be significantly brighter than night-time events, the American Meteor Society explained. The American Meteor Society confirmed the sighting to CNN in June 2025, when a similar fireball was widely observed across the Southeast U.S. The occurrence coincided with a period of low meteor activity, as no active meteor showers are expected until the Lyrids meteor shower begins on April 17.#nasa #national_weather_service #cleveland #american_meteor_society #eastern_us
Moment suspected meteor is spotted over Ohio and Pennsylvania A suspected meteor and bright streaks in the sky were observed over parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio on Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service and NASA confirmed that a fireball had fallen in Northeast Ohio near Cleveland. Officials reported that the event was accompanied by a loud boom as the object broke the sound barrier before landing. The National Weather Service shared details online, noting that they had received numerous reports from residents in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio describing the bright light and the accompanying noise. Satellite data suggested the object was likely a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere. The fireball’s descent was described as dramatic, with witnesses noting its intense brightness and the sudden, powerful sound it produced. The incident has sparked interest among scientists and the public, as meteor sightings are relatively rare but often provide valuable data about atmospheric conditions and space debris. While the exact origin and trajectory of the meteor remain under investigation, experts emphasize that such events are natural and part of the ongoing interaction between space and Earth. The confirmation of the meteor’s fall comes as other news stories highlight a range of global events, from political developments to natural disasters. However, the meteor sighting stands out as a moment of shared experience, reminding people of the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of the universe.#national_weather_service #pennsylvania #ohio #national_aviation_services #cleveland
