Key facts (TL;DR)Most 2016 “mystery booms” trace to sonic booms, small earthquakes & frostquakes, meteors/fireballs, and industrial or demolition activity. A share remain unexplained due to short duration and sparse instrumentation.
Jump to: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Jun · Jul · Sep · Nov · Dec
What’s shaking the skies? In 2016, the world experienced dozens of mystery booms and skyquakes—sudden thunderless explosions that rattled windows and startled communities. Some were traced to sonic booms, small earthquakes, blasting, or fireballs. But others? They remain unexplained to this day.
What causes mystery booms?
- Sonic booms from military jets or spacecraft re-entry
- Earthquakes & frostquakes producing audible cracks
- Meteors & fireballs detonating in the atmosphere
- Industrial & demolition activity sometimes misattributed as skyquakes
- Atmospheric oddities amplifying sound over long distances
Loud Booms — January 2016
- January Mystery Booms Compilation. Strange Sounds and SS1
- Jan 26 — Charleston, SC (USA): A sonic boom rattled the Lowcountry, later linked to military activity. Strange Sounds
- Jan 12 — Bootle, UK: A mystery boom was heard over Liverpool suburbs, baffling locals. Liverpool Echo
- Jan 1–10 — Multiple states (USA): A nationwide wave of mystery booms shook Pennsylvania, Indiana, Oklahoma, California, Georgia, and more. Strange Sounds
Loud Booms — February 2016
- Feb 20 — Georgia (USA): Weeks of mystery booms rattled multiple counties; cause still unknown. Strange Sounds
- Feb 10 — McAdam, NB (Canada): An earthquake swarm produced dozens of audible booms. CBC
Loud Booms — March 2016
- Mar 28 — Connecticut (USA): A series of still unexplained explosions alarmed Agawam and Suffield residents. WWLP
Loud Booms — April 2016
- Apr 11 — Nigeria: A meteorite crash on farmland caused deafening booms in a small village. Strange Sounds
Loud Booms — June 2016
- Jun 2 — Palmerston North (New Zealand): City shaken by mystery boom & rumble; no quake detected. Stuff.co.nz
Loud Booms — July 2016
- Jul 5 — Alhambra, CA (USA): For months, residents endured persistent mystery noises, baffling scientists. Fox News
Loud Booms — September 2016
- Sep 24 — Ontario (Canada): A still unexplained blast startled South Frontenac residents. Kingston Region
- Sep 20 — New York (USA): Unexplained booming sounds reverberated through parts of the city. NY Times
Loud Booms — November 2016
- Nov 19 — Stockport, UK: Residents witnessed a flash of light followed by a massive boom, suspected meteor. Manchester Evening News
- Nov 12 — Spearfish, SD (USA): A sonic boom/fireball rattled homes for miles. Cause never confirmed. BH Pioneer
Loud Booms — December 2016
- Dec 31 — Bossier Parish, Louisiana (USA): Repeated booms and rumblings rattled homes, later confirmed as Army training exercises at Barksdale AFB. KTBS
- Dec 31 — Tennessee (USA): Residents across White Pine, Newport, and Kodak heard mystery booms into the night, sparking speculation.
- Dec 14 — Nova Scotia (Canada): A small earthquake produced a sharp earthquake boom heard across communities. CBC
- Dec 13 — Rogers County, OK (USA): Loud mystery booms shook homes, baffling residents. KJRH
- Dec 11 — Oregon (USA): Fighter jets + a small quake created rumbles and booms across the state. KOIN
- Dec 11 — Sarpy County, NE (USA): Mystery booms woke entire neighborhoods at night. WOWT
Report a 2016 boom
Report a 2017 boom we missed
Did you hear a mystery boom in 2017 that isn’t listed here? Drop it in the comments or send us a report with the exact time, location, and any audio/video. The more data points, the better we can spot patterns.
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