Mystery Booms & Skyquakes — 2020 Timeline of Unexplained Loud Booms

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Mystery booms 2020 timeline — verified reports of unexplained loud booms and skyquakes
The big list of mysterious booms and unexplained skyquakes recorded in 2020.

Key facts (TL;DR)
Most 2020 “mystery booms” trace to training detonations, icequakes during deep freezes, meteors/sonic booms, and industrial incidents. A minority remain unexplained due to brief duration and lack of instrumentation.

Jump to: causes · Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Aug · Nov · Report a mystery boom (time, location, weather, recording)

What was that boom? If a single thunderless blast shook your windows and rattled your bones in 2020, you weren’t alone. Residents around the world reported unexplained loud booms—sometimes described as skyquakes—that set off car alarms, sent pets into hiding, and left officials scrambling for answers.

What causes “mystery booms”?

  • Icequakes (frost quakes) during rapid freeze/thaw
  • Shallow earthquakes and rock fracturing
  • Meteors & sonic booms (fireballs, fast jets)
  • Military training / EOD detonations
  • Industrial incidents (implosions, plant explosions)
  • Coastal surf impacts & rare booming dunes
  • Less common: gas releases/clathrates, unknown

How to tell what you heard

  • Windows rattle + no thunder + clear sky: sonic boom or industrial blast likely.
  • Series of cracks during deep cold: icequakes.
  • Single jolt + felt quake on USGS map: earthquake boom.

Methodology: We prioritize official advisories (military bases, EOD), USGS/NWS data, local outlets, and verifiable user videos. When uncertain, we clearly mark reports as unconfirmed.

Loud Booms — January 2020

  • Jan 2 — Saratoga County, NY (USA): A powerful meteor explosion rattled windows and homes across the region. Witnesses reported a bright flash followed by a sharp concussive boom. News10
  • Jan 3–17 — Quantico, VA (USA): Noise advisory issued for ongoing Marine Corps training, with periodic detonations audible for miles around the base.
  • Jan (month) — Fort Benning, GA (USA): The base scheduled heavy weapons training throughout January; recurrent booms were heard across neighboring communities. WTVM
  • Jan 5 — Austin, TX (USA): Multiple controlled implosion booms during demolition of University Towers created sharp blasts and echoes. Patch
  • Jan 8 — Bowling Green, OH (USA): Suspicious booming noises were investigated citywide. It turned out to be air cannon firing to scare away bustards that were attacking dairy cows. Facebook
  • Jan 11 — Southeast Texas (USA): A widespread boom shook homes across counties; reports described a shockwave-like jolt and a single loud crack.
  • Jan 12 — Mason City, IA (USA): Local coverage compiled ongoing boom reports; residents described window-rattling impacts without thunder.
  • Jan 13 — Lake Charles area, TX (USA): A plant fire/explosion produced a loud blast heard for miles, with visible flames and emergency response. 97.3 The Dawg
  • Jan 14 — Spartanburg Co., SC (USA): A strong boom with vibration rattled homes in Rock Springs; officials checked for blasting or industrial sources. WSPA
  • Jan 15 — San Diego County, CA (USA): Coastal communities reported an explosion-like noise with no quake detected; speculation ranged from sonic boom to offshore activity. 10News
  • Jan 15 — Cape Fear region, NC (USA): Very loud booms shook multiple towns across the Cape Fear; no quake signatures recorded. WECT
  • Jan 17 — Quad Cities, IL–IA (USA): An outbreak of frost quakes (icequakes) produced repeated booms during extreme cold. WQAD
  • Jan 20 — East Tennessee (USA): A M3.8 earthquake produced audible booms and ground rumbling across the region. Strange Sounds
  • Jan 24 — Houston, TX (USA): A deadly plant explosion produced a massive blast wave felt across the metro. Strange Sounds
  • Jan 25 — Mobile area, AL (USA): A boom with ground shake was reported across West Mobile, Semmes, and Grand Bay; clips captured the moment.
  • Jan 27 — Leeds (UK): Citywide reports of unexplained loud bangs sparked sonic boom speculation; no official cause confirmed. Leeds Live
  • Jan 28 — Long Beach area, CA (USA): Three sharp booms from Bixby Knolls to Lakewood prompted police checks and community alerts. Long Beach Post
  • Jan 30 — London (UK): Explosions and bangs heard citywide tied to Royal Marines exercises, officials said. Police
  • Jan 30 — Texas (USA): Residents reported earthquake booms in conjunction with felt tremors.

↑ Back to top · Causes · Next: Feb

Loud Booms — February 2020

  • Feb 2 — Walton County, GA (USA): A super-loud blast shook homes on Super Bowl Sunday; possibilities ranged from sonic boom to blasting. WSB-TV
  • Feb 6 — Sonora, CA (USA): A series of explosive booms triggered countywide speculation about blasting and tannerite use. MyMotherLode
  • Feb 7 — Red River Army Depot, TX (USA): Nearby communities reported recurrent detonations associated with training activity. TexarkanaFYI
  • Feb 7–9 — Chiang Mai (Thailand): “Mystery booms” returned with multiple daytime blasts; residents captured the sounds on video.
  • Feb 11–12 — Horry County, SC (USA): Loud explosion reports spread across Carolina Forest; officials later referenced ordnance detonations. WPDE
  • Feb 12 — Windsor, ME (USA): Residents heard very strong booms; conditions favored icequakes during deep freeze. 92 Moose
  • Feb 13 — Wuhan (China): Mystery booms & rumbling circulated on social media; local press acknowledged widespread reports. Global Times
  • Feb 13 — Tomaree Peninsula (Australia): A shaking boom rattled the coast; authorities did not confirm a definitive source. Port Stephens Examiner
  • Feb 15 — Oswego County, NY (USA): A silo explosion generated a loud blast heard across Mexico, NY; no skyquake involved. LocalSYR
  • Feb 16 — Prescott area, AZ (USA): A loud boom with flash suggested a possible meteor sonic boom; security cameras captured the sound.
  • Feb 18 — Sumas Mountain, WA (USA): Thunderous bangs echoed around the mountain; residents reported brief shaking. Abby News
  • Feb 20 — Stratford, CT (USA): Town-wide loud boom discussion after evening blasts; theories ranged from blasting to icy ground shifts. CT Post
  • Feb 21 — Ocala National Forest, FL (USA): The Navy conducted live bombing at Pinecastle Range; loud detonations were expected. ClickOrlando
  • Feb 22 — North County, CA (USA): Shaking with booms reported across coastal neighborhoods; offshore activity suspected by some. 10News
  • Feb 24 — Tangipahoa Parish, LA (USA): Parish-wide reports of a loud boom; law enforcement canvassed possible industrial or explosive sources. WBRZ
  • Feb 25 — Morristown, TN (USA): The “booms are back” with renewed community reports; prior years have seen similar episodes.
  • Feb 26 — Jersey Shore (USA): Mysterious booms rattled buildings across Atlantic and Cape May counties; officials probed quake and military avenues. NJ.com
  • Feb 27–28 — Multiple locations: Eyewitness emails described house-shaking booms in Northwest Arkansas and North Carolina; deputies investigated with no confirmed cause.
  • Feb 28 — Myrtle Beach to New Hanover Co., NC (USA): A massive boom was heard along the coast; NWS acknowledged widespread reports. WWAY

↑ Back to top · Next: Mar

Skyquakes — March 2020

  • Mar 3 — Fort Knox, KY (USA): Announced training booms created repeated concussions audible across neighboring towns. WDRB
  • Mar 4 — Miami Valley, OH (USA): Residents reported loud, explosion-like booms across several counties; source unclear. WHIO
  • Mar 5 — Multiple (USA): Community emails documented sustained boom sequences over hours; police logged calls with no public confirmation.
  • Mar 6–15 — Fort Carson, CO (USA): Scheduled loud training led to a week of audible detonations. KOAA
  • Mar 7 — Ellis County, TX (USA): A mystery boom was tied by locals to possible tannerite use after event celebrations. FOX4
  • Mar 12 — Baltimore/Harford Co., MD (USA): Loud booms traced to Aberdeen Proving Ground testing. Patch
  • Mar 12 — Upstate NY (USA): Quake-related booms followed a felt event in South Glens Falls; many heard a sharp crack. Strange Sounds
  • Mar 15 — Grand Island, NY (USA): Mysterious loud noises rattled residents; surveillance audio captured multiple impacts. WGRZ
  • Mar 18 — Utah (USA): A M5.7 earthquake near Salt Lake produced booms and rumbling, power outages, and widespread shaking. Strange Sounds
  • Mar 20–21 — TN (USA): Detailed eyewitness frequency notes described a deep-pitched boom recurring on consecutive mornings across a ~12-mile radius; officials had no advisories logged.
  • Mar 22 — Joint Base Charleston, SC (USA): Four controlled detonations by EOD generated an extended rumble heard off-base. Post & Courier
  • Mar 24 — Twin Falls, ID (USA): The return of the booms sparked neighborhood threads and tip lines. KEZJ
  • Mar 26 — Battle Creek, MI (USA): A “big boom” coincided with Ft. Custer exercises; regional outlets confirmed training as the source. WWMT
  • Mar 28 — Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): Loud booms followed the interception of ballistic missiles over the capital. Tasnim

↑ Back to top · Next: Apr

Loud Booms — April 2020

  • Apr 2 — North of Houston, TX (USA): Residents described a strange, unfamiliar boom without thunder; speculation focused on blasting and tannerite. Texas UFO Sightings
  • Apr 2–3 — Utah (USA): Multiple loud booms reported across counties; Army open detonations were noted one day later. ABC4
  • Apr 9 — Anniston, AL (USA): Officials warned of open detonations at Pelham Range; evening blasts were audible across the area. Anniston Star
  • Apr 14 — Washington, DC (USA): Northwest neighborhoods heard a single loud boom; the city didn’t immediately confirm a source. DCist

↑ Back to top · Next: Aug

Mystery Blasts — August 2020

  • Aug — Saranac Lake, NY (USA): A house-rattling boom shook neighborhoods; officials floated possibilities including sonic events and local blasting. Times Union
  • Aug — Fort Knox, KY (USA): Residents miles away reported repetitive explosive sounds linked to Guard training evolutions. WDRB
  • Aug 4 — Beirut (Lebanon): An apocalyptic port explosion produced a devastating shockwave felt across the city and far beyond. Strange Sounds
  • Aug — North Korea: Explosion reports circulated with limited independent verification; we tracked and contextualized the claims. Strange Sounds
  • Aug 4 — Cambria, IL (USA): Residents identified the source of repeated bangs after an uptick in complaints. WSIL-TV

Loud Booming Noises — November 2020