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A loud boom that shook buildings across parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning was likely caused by a meteor entering the atmosphere, according to the National Weather Service. Videos showed a bright flash in the sky, and authorities said they received numerous calls about an explosion, but no damage or injuries were reported.

Why it matters

Meteors entering the Earth’s atmosphere are relatively common, but ones that produce a loud boom and are visible across a wide area are less frequent. This event highlights the need for continued monitoring and research into these natural phenomena to better understand their potential impacts.

The details

The National Weather Service said its lightning mapper and cameras picked up what appeared to be a meteor streaking across the sky just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday. A meteorologist in Cleveland said a sonic boom was heard across much of the area, and the Weather Service office in Pittsburgh also received reports of a loud boom and a fireball in the sky. Law enforcement authorities said they were inundated with calls about what sounded like an explosion, but no damage or injuries were reported.

• The loud boom occurred around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The National Weather Service and other scientific agencies will continue to analyze data from the event to better understand the characteristics and origin of the meteor.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – One Cleveland firefighter was injured fighting a house fire in the city’s Kamm’s Corners neighborhood.

Flames broke out inside a two-and-a-half story home on Elsienna Avenue around 5:10 a.m. Tuesday.

When firefighters arrived, flames could be seen shooting from the second floor and attic.

Cleveland Fire Lt. Mike Norman said the fire flashed during ventilation and one firefighter with Ladder 39 suffered burn injuries.

The firefighter was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center in stable condition, said Lt. Norman.

A husband and wife and two kids are now being helped by the Red Cross.

According to Lt. Norman, the cause of the blaze was electrical.

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At 125 pounds, junior Troy Spratley (16-3), seeded No. 5, faces No. 28 Andrew Binni of Navy in the first round on Thursday. Advancing could pit him against No. 12 Vincent Robinson of NC State in the round of 16, a rematch of multiple losses, including a 2-1 tiebreaker defeat in last year’s NCAA finals and a 7-3 dual setback. Quarters might bring No. 4 Sheldon Seymour of Lehigh, with semis against No. 1 Luke Lilledahl of Penn State. Spratley’s path is tough, but his experience could yield All-American honors with bonus points.