Sonic Boom Confirmed in South Carolina

Added: 2026-06-04

[00:00:00]We begin tonight with a big blast creating all kinds of questions tonight.

[00:00:04]It shook people's homes and it certainly got their attention from border to border here. So, watch Fox News went and tried to find some answers. All of this happened around 5:20 tonight and for a long time nobody knew what it was.

[00:00:16]Tonight, experts only seem to be sure about what it was not. Our Kiana Jordan joining us live in the studio now with what we're learning about what caused all that shaking.

[00:00:26]>> Yeah, Byron, the people across the region say they were shaken and confused after that powerful boom echoed across the area tonight. Now, reports came in from as far as North Augusta to Darlington County. Tonight, the US Geological Survey telling Watch Fox News that the noise wasn't caused by an earthquake. Instead, it was a sonic boom. Now, several viewers sending us videos from their homes that showed the shaking that happened this evening. The US Geological Survey says the recorded waves and eyewitness reports are consistent with a sonic boom. The 0.0 magnitude boom was detected almost 4 mi northeast of St. Andrews area of Richland County near the State Fire Academy. But, there was no seismic activity. Viewers from Lexington, Swansea, Blythewood, and several other communities reported feeling their homes shake. Now, others say the sound resembled thunder, an explosion, or a massive impact. The USGS says sonic booms happen when an object, including a plane or spacecraft, travels faster than the speed of the sound, creating shock waves that can be heard and felt on the ground. Now, tonight it is still isn't clear what caused the boom. Again, no earthquake and no damage reports that we've seen from this incident. We'll continue to follow any new information about what caused that sonic boom. Uh now, over to weather.

[00:01:50]>> Yeah, I think you summed everything up pretty good. I mean, you know, it's we're not sure exactly what it was. We do know that it was some sort of sonic boom and like she said it can be caused by things like meteors burning up in the atmosphere, a jet, a rocket ship. We're not exactly sure what it is.

[00:02:08]Speculations are pointing towards a meteor, but again that is not confirmed, not exactly sure what it is. So, if we hear word about it, we will let you know, but another thing is these things the speed of sound is faster the warmer the temperature is warm. When that happened it was about 90°. So, whatever it was, it was moving at approximately 780 to 790 mph to cause a sonic boom.

[00:02:34]So, again not sure exactly what it was, but as soon as we know, we will let you know.