STRANGE SOUNDS ARCHIVE · 2016
From meteor shockwaves over Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Mexico and Argentina to an unusually shallow earthquake swarm in New Brunswick and a mysterious earthquake-like disturbance in California that registered no earthquake at all, 2016 produced an unusually diverse collection of loud booms and unexplained rumblings.
This curated archive separates events with identifiable physical causes from cases that remain unresolved. It focuses on documented mystery booms, skyquakes, meteor sonic booms, earthquake sounds and unexplained explosion-like events rather than routine military advisories, ordinary industrial explosions or weak internet reports.
- Meteors were among the clearest boom-makers: several bright fireballs generated explosion-like sounds, shaking or delayed atmospheric shockwaves.
- Denmark produced one of the year’s best-documented cases: the February 6 Ejby fireball was followed by the recovery of meteorites.
- Earthquakes also sounded explosive: an exceptionally shallow swarm beneath McAdam, New Brunswick, generated repeated felt and heard events.
- Not every apparent earthquake was seismic: the November 15 San Jose disturbance was widely felt, yet the USGS found no corresponding earthquake.
- Some cases remain unresolved: credible reports from Pennsylvania, New Zealand, Ontario and elsewhere never received a sufficiently supported explanation.
What Were the Mystery Booms of 2016?
A mystery boom is a sudden explosion-like sound, rumble or pressure disturbance whose source is initially unknown. The term describes the observation—not a cause.
Investigations frequently reveal ordinary physical mechanisms. A meteoroid entering the atmosphere at hypersonic speed can generate a powerful sonic shockwave. Very shallow earthquakes can radiate audible vibrations into the atmosphere. Aircraft can generate sonic booms, while explosions, blasting and other human activity can occasionally imitate natural skyquakes.
Other reports remain unresolved because the sound lasted only seconds, occurred far from instruments or left no physical evidence.
For the broader science behind these phenomena, see the Mystery Booms & Rumblings hub.
How Events in This Archive Are Classified
Instrumental, official or strong documentary evidence identifies the physical source.
One explanation fits the available observations substantially better than competing possibilities, although some uncertainty remains.
The event is credibly documented, but surviving evidence does not establish a reliable source.
The original report is incomplete or the available evidence is too weak for a confident interpretation.
Important: “unresolved” does not mean paranormal, extraordinary or inexplicable. It simply means that the available evidence is insufficient to identify the source.
January 2016 Mystery Booms
JANUARY 23 · FINLAND
Bright Fireball Followed by Thunder-Like Rumbling Across Southern Finland
A brilliant fireball illuminated large areas of southern and western Finland at about 8 p.m. local time. Roughly 200 observations of the flash were reported, while some witnesses described thunder-like rumbling after the fireball.
The combination of an intense atmospheric fireball and subsequent sound is consistent with a meteoroid generating shockwaves while traveling through the atmosphere.
Status: CONFIRMED
JANUARY 26 · SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Sonic Boom Rattles Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry
Residents around Charleston and the Lowcountry reported a sudden powerful boom and shaking. The disturbance was subsequently associated with military aircraft activity.
This event remains useful historically because residents experienced it first as an unexplained regional blast before a conventional sonic-boom explanation emerged.
Status: CONFIRMED
February 2016 Mystery Booms
FEBRUARY 6 · DENMARK
Ejby Fireball Produces Loud Atmospheric Sounds — Then Meteorites Are Found
One of the strongest documented mystery-boom cases of 2016 occurred over eastern Denmark on February 6.
At 21:07:19 UTC, an exceptionally bright fireball crossed the region. Despite cloudy conditions over eastern Denmark, the sky brightened dramatically enough to be seen even from illuminated Copenhagen.
The Danish fireball network ultimately received 233 reports describing sound and light phenomena.
Then came the decisive evidence: meteorite fragments were recovered. Eleven pieces with a combined mass of approximately 8.98 kilograms were eventually found and scientifically classified as the Ejby H5/6 ordinary chondrite.
Unlike many mystery-boom reports, the event therefore connects the entire sequence—from brilliant atmospheric entry and reported sound to physical extraterrestrial material recovered on the ground.
Status: CONFIRMED
FEBRUARY 3–10 · NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA
Very Shallow Earthquake Swarm Produces Repeated Booms Around McAdam
Residents of McAdam experienced another burst of earthquake-swarm activity in February 2016, accompanied by numerous felt—and in some cases heard—events.
Natural Resources Canada determined that the earthquakes were exceptionally shallow, occurring within roughly the upper 1–2 kilometers of Earth’s crust and clustered within about five kilometers of the town.
Several events reached approximately magnitude 3, including magnitude-3.3 earthquakes on February 8.
Because the earthquakes were so shallow and close to the community, even relatively small events could produce abrupt shaking and explosive-sounding ground vibrations. Additional portable seismometers were deployed to better characterize the swarm.
Status: CONFIRMED
Why the Ejby Case Matters
Meteor-generated booms are sometimes dismissed because witnesses may hear the sound minutes after seeing the fireball. That delay is exactly what physics predicts.
Light from a fireball reaches observers almost instantly, while atmospheric pressure waves travel at approximately the speed of sound. A sufficiently energetic meteoroid can therefore disappear from view before its sonic shockwave finally reaches the ground.
FEBRUARY · NEW JERSEY, USA
Small Earthquake Activity Near the Ramapo Region Accompanied by Boom Reports
Residents in northern New Jersey reported loud explosion-like sounds around the same period as small seismic events in the region.
Small, shallow earthquakes can sometimes produce surprisingly sharp acoustic effects because seismic energy reaching the surface can couple into the atmosphere.
Status: LIKELY
FEBRUARY 29 · SCOTLAND
Brilliant Fireball Lights Scotland as Residents Report a Loud Bang and Shaking Houses
A brilliant fireball crossed the Scottish sky on February 29 and triggered a wave of reports to police.
Witnesses described an intense white flash, while others reported a very loud bang and even houses shaking. The sequence is consistent with an atmospheric fireball followed by its pressure wave reaching observers on the ground.
Status: CONFIRMED
March 2016 Mystery Booms
MARCH 13 · PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Another Powerful Boom Reported in North Codorus Township
Residents in the North Codorus Township area reported another unexplained boom in a region where similar explosion-like sounds had previously attracted local attention.
No sufficiently documented source survives in the public record to classify the event more narrowly.
Status: UNRESOLVED
MARCH 28 · MASSACHUSETTS / CONNECTICUT, USA
Explosion-Like Sounds Alarm Residents Around Agawam and Suffield
Police investigated reports of a powerful explosion-like sound in the Agawam area, with related reports from communities near the Massachusetts–Connecticut border.
No well-supported natural, industrial or military source was publicly established.
Status: UNRESOLVED
April 2016 Mystery Booms
APRIL 11 · NIGERIA
Reports of a Meteor-Like Object and Deafening Boom Over Nigerian Farmland
Reports from Nigeria described an object falling from the sky near farmland accompanied by a powerful boom.
The event was widely presented as a meteorite fall, but the surviving evidence is not strong enough to place it alongside independently verified falls such as Ejby.
Status: UNCERTAIN
May 2016 Mystery Booms
MAY 18 · ARGENTINA
Bright Bolide Triggers Huge Boom and Tremor Along Argentina’s Atlantic Coast
At approximately 9:25 p.m., residents of Pinamar, Cariló, Villa Gesell and surrounding communities witnessed an intense flash in the sky followed by a powerful explosion-like sound.
The disturbance was strong enough to be perceived as a tremor and reportedly triggered numerous home and vehicle alarm systems.
Subsequent analysis concluded that the event was compatible with a meteoroid entering the atmosphere at hypersonic velocity, producing both the bright bolide and a strong atmospheric shockwave.
No recovered meteorite is required for such a boom: most incoming material can fragment or ablate in the atmosphere while still creating substantial pressure waves.
Status: CONFIRMED
MAY 21 · CENTRAL MEXICO
Bolide Crosses Central Mexico and Explodes With a Powerful Boom
At approximately 1:48 a.m., a luminous object crossed the skies over central Mexico and was followed by a strong explosion-like sound reported across multiple areas including Puebla.
Astronomers at Mexico’s National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics identified the phenomenon as a bolide, or exceptionally bright meteor.
Importantly, there was no evidence that material reached the ground. Calling the object a “meteorite” would therefore go beyond the available evidence.
Status: CONFIRMED
June 2016 Mystery Booms
JUNE 2 · PALMERSTON NORTH, NEW ZEALAND
Large Bang and Rumble Shake Palmerston North — But No Earthquake Is Detected
Residents around Palmerston North reported a substantial bang followed by rumbling or shaking.
The obvious earthquake hypothesis was weakened when no corresponding seismic event was detected. Without a confirmed explosion, aircraft source or other physical explanation, the event remains one of 2016’s cleaner unresolved regional boom cases.
Status: UNRESOLVED
September 2016 Mystery Booms
SEPTEMBER 24 · ONTARIO, CANADA
Mysterious Blast Startles South Frontenac Residents
Residents of South Frontenac reported a sudden powerful explosion-like sound that prompted speculation about its source.
No sufficiently supported explanation emerged in the surviving reporting, making this a credible but unresolved archive case.
Status: UNRESOLVED
November 2016 Mystery Booms
NOVEMBER 12 · SOUTH DAKOTA, USA
Powerful Boom Heard for Miles Around Spearfish
Residents around Spearfish reported a loud boom strong enough to rattle homes over a considerable area.
A meteor or atmospheric sonic event was discussed as a possible explanation, but no source was established firmly enough to classify the event as solved.
Status: UNRESOLVED
NOVEMBER 15 · CALIFORNIA, USA
San Jose’s “Phantom Earthquake” Shakes the South Bay — But USGS Detects No Earthquake
One of 2016’s most intriguing unresolved disturbances occurred across California’s South Bay.
People from the San Jose area toward Santa Cruz reported earthquake-like shaking, and at least one report described a loud boom.
The U.S. Geological Survey performed an extensive check but found no seismic activity corresponding to the disturbance.
A sonic boom was considered, but military officials subsequently said the reported character of the event was inconsistent with a typical military sonic boom. A utility-related source was also not identified.
That leaves the disturbance genuinely unresolved—not because exotic explanations are required, but because none of the conventional candidates could be demonstrated from the available evidence.
Status: UNRESOLVED
NOVEMBER 19 · STOCKPORT, UK
Flash of Light Followed by a Massive Boom Over Greater Manchester
Residents around Stockport and Cheadle reported a bright flash followed by a very loud explosion-like sound.
A meteor was proposed as a plausible explanation, but the evidence available publicly was insufficient to establish the source at the same level as the well-documented Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Mexico and Argentina cases.
Status: LIKELY
December 2016 Mystery Booms
DECEMBER 11 · NEBRASKA, USA
Nighttime Booms Wake Neighborhoods in Sarpy County
Residents in the Omaha-area suburbs reported loud nighttime booms that woke people across several neighborhoods.
No sufficiently documented physical source was established in surviving coverage.
Status: UNRESOLVED
DECEMBER 13 · OKLAHOMA, USA
Loud Boom Shakes Homes in Rogers County
Residents reported a sharp explosion-like sound accompanied by shaking.
Oklahoma was experiencing unusually elevated seismicity during this broader period, but an earthquake should not be assigned as the cause of an individual boom unless seismic data actually support that connection.
For the science and historical context, see Induced Seismicity & Man-Made Earthquakes Explained.
Status: UNRESOLVED
DECEMBER 14 · NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
Small Earthquake Produces a Sharp Boom in Nova Scotia
A small earthquake in southwestern Nova Scotia was associated with reports of a sharp boom and shaking.
This event illustrates why some “mystery explosions” turn out to have a seismic origin: shallow earthquakes can produce strong high-frequency vibrations close to their epicenters even when their magnitudes are modest.
Status: CONFIRMED
What Caused the Mystery Booms of 2016?
| Cause | 2016 examples | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Meteors & bolides | Finland, Denmark, Scotland, Pinamar, Puebla | Visual observations, atmospheric effects and—in Denmark—recovered meteorites |
| Earthquakes | McAdam, northern New Jersey, Nova Scotia | Seismic instrumentation and felt reports |
| Aircraft sonic booms | Charleston / Lowcountry | Military aircraft explanation |
| Unresolved regional disturbances | North Codorus, Agawam/Suffield, Palmerston North, South Frontenac, San Jose, Sarpy County, Rogers County | Credible reports but insufficient evidence for a definitive source |
The 2016 record reinforces an important point: “mystery boom” is not a single phenomenon. Similar sounds can emerge from completely different physical systems occurring in the atmosphere, solid Earth or human environment.
The Science Behind the 2016 Mystery Booms
How Can a Meteor Make a Boom Without Hitting the Ground?
Meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere at enormous speeds—typically many kilometers per second. At those velocities, the object strongly compresses and heats the air in front of it.
A sufficiently large meteoroid produces a shockwave similar in principle to the sonic boom generated by a supersonic aircraft, although meteor-generated shockwaves can originate tens of kilometers above the surface.
Observers may therefore see a brilliant fireball first and hear the boom significantly later.
The 2016 events over Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Argentina and Mexico provide excellent examples of this sequence.
Why Was the Ejby Meteorite Fall So Important?
Most historical mystery-boom reports leave investigators with eyewitness testimony alone. Ejby was different.
The fireball was observed, associated sound phenomena were widely reported and pieces of the incoming object were physically recovered. The meteorites could then be classified and analyzed in laboratories.
That makes Ejby a particularly valuable reference case for understanding how atmospheric meteoroids can produce sounds that residents initially interpret as explosions or earthquakes.
Why Can Small Earthquakes Sound Like Explosions?
Earthquakes release elastic energy into the surrounding rock. When a shallow seismic wave reaches the surface, some of that energy can couple into the atmosphere as audible sound.
Very shallow earthquakes can therefore produce abrupt cracks, bangs, booms or rumbling that seem disproportionate to their magnitude.
McAdam provides a particularly useful 2016 example because the earthquake swarm occurred only about 1–2 kilometers below the surface.
Can a Boom Shake a House Without Being an Earthquake?
Yes. A sufficiently strong atmospheric pressure wave can rattle windows, vibrate walls and create sensations that witnesses describe as an earthquake.
That is why meteor shockwaves and aircraft sonic booms are frequently reported as combinations of both sound and shaking.
The San Jose case shows the reverse diagnostic problem: many people perceived earthquake-like shaking, but seismologists found no corresponding earthquake.
Where Does Induced Seismicity Fit?
Some regions represented in mystery-boom archives also experienced significant human-influenced seismicity, particularly parts of Oklahoma.
However, regional induced seismicity should not be used as a blanket explanation for every unexplained boom. A specific event should only be labeled an earthquake when seismic evidence supports that conclusion.
Read the full science here: Induced Seismicity & Man-Made Earthquakes Explained.
How This 2016 Archive Was Reconstructed
The original Strange Sounds archive was created while many of these events were unfolding in real time. This updated version applies a stricter retrospective standard.
- Routine military noise advisories are excluded.
- Known industrial accidents and ordinary infrastructure explosions are excluded unless they were genuinely significant to the mystery-boom investigation.
- Generic monthly “boom compilation” posts are not treated as individual events.
- Events supported only by weak viral claims are excluded or explicitly labeled uncertain.
- Cases with later scientific explanations have been updated to reflect those explanations.
- Unresolved cases remain unresolved rather than being assigned speculative causes.
This means the timeline is intentionally curated rather than exhaustive.
Mystery Booms 2016 — Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the mystery booms of 2016?
There was no single cause. Documented 2016 cases included meteor shockwaves, shallow earthquakes and aircraft sonic booms, while several credible regional disturbances remain unresolved.
Did meteors cause loud booms in 2016?
Yes. Strong examples occurred over Finland, Denmark, Scotland, Argentina and Mexico. Meteoroids moving through the atmosphere at hypersonic velocities can generate pressure waves powerful enough to sound like explosions and rattle buildings.
What was the Ejby meteorite event?
A brilliant fireball crossed eastern Denmark on February 6, 2016. Hundreds of sound and light reports were recorded, and 11 meteorite fragments totaling about 8.98 kilograms were subsequently recovered. The material was classified as the Ejby H5/6 ordinary chondrite.
Why were so many booms heard during the McAdam earthquake swarm?
The McAdam earthquakes occurred at unusually shallow depths of roughly 1–2 kilometers. Shallow seismic events can generate strong high-frequency ground motion and audible sounds close to their source.
What caused the 2016 Pinamar boom in Argentina?
The bright flash, strong explosion-like sound and tremor reported around Pinamar, Cariló and Villa Gesell were attributed to a meteoroid entering the atmosphere and producing a powerful atmospheric shockwave.
What caused the May 2016 Puebla explosion in the sky?
Astronomers identified the event as a bolide—an exceptionally bright meteor. The object produced a strong atmospheric explosion or shockwave, but there was no evidence proving that meteorite material reached the ground.
Was the San Jose phantom earthquake a real earthquake?
Apparently not. On November 15, 2016, people across parts of California’s South Bay reported earthquake-like shaking, but the U.S. Geological Survey found no corresponding seismic activity. The source remains unresolved.
Does unresolved mean scientists cannot explain mystery booms?
No. It means that a particular historical event lacks enough surviving evidence to identify its source confidently. Most categories of boom-producing phenomena—meteors, sonic booms, earthquakes, explosions and atmospheric sound propagation—are well understood physically.
Mystery Booms by Year
Report a Mystery Boom
Did you witness a boom or unexplained rumbling that belongs in the historical record? Include the exact location, local time, duration, direction of the sound, whether anything was seen in the sky, whether buildings shook and whether other witnesses heard it.
