Fireball Streaks Across Sky and Shakes Homes in Multiple States (Video)

Residents across parts of the Midwest and Northeast got a startling wake-up call Tuesday morning after a fast-moving meteor tore through the atmosphere, producing a loud boom that rattled homes and sparked fears of an explosion.

Officials now say the dramatic event was caused by a space rock roughly the size of a small car.

The incident unfolded just before 9 a.m. Eastern, when a bright fireball was spotted streaking across the sky. Within moments, reports flooded in from at least 10 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and parts of Canada.

Witnesses described a glowing object cutting through the sky—followed by a thunderous boom.

In Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, some residents said the sound was powerful enough to shake their homes.

“It felt like something hit the house,” one Ohio resident told a local TV station. Others initially feared an explosion or crash nearby.

Scientists quickly identified the source: a meteor traveling at an estimated 45,000 miles per hour.

According to NASA, the object weighed about seven tons before it entered Earth’s atmosphere. As it descended, it began to break apart, releasing a burst of energy equivalent to roughly 250 tons of TNT.

“That fragmentation creates a pressure wave,” officials said. “That’s what people hear as a boom on the ground.”

The shockwave was strong enough to be felt across a wide area.

Data shows the meteor first became visible about 50 miles above Lake Erie, near the northern Ohio shoreline. It then raced southeast, traveling more than 30 miles through the upper atmosphere before breaking apart over northern Ohio.

Fragments are believed to have scattered across parts of Medina County, though officials have not confirmed whether any pieces have been recovered.

The National Weather Service said one of its instruments—typically used to detect lightning—picked up the event as a bright flash over the Cleveland area.

“These systems can detect sudden bursts of light in the atmosphere,” the agency said. “Meteors often appear similar to lightning on our sensors.”

Tuesday’s fireball is the latest in a series of recent sightings over the region.

In mid-February, a meteor was captured on a doorbell camera late at night. Another bright object was recorded just days ago, adding to growing interest in these sudden sky events.

Experts say most meteors burn up before reaching the ground and rarely pose any danger.

Still, the combination of a visible fireball and a powerful sonic boom can be alarming.

For many, the experience was unforgettable.

Eyewitnesses described a flash of light followed seconds later by a deep, rolling boom—similar to distant thunder, but sharper and more intense.

Officials say that delay is typical. Light from the meteor reaches observers instantly, while the sound wave takes longer to travel.

By the time the boom is heard, the meteor has already broken apart miles above the Earth.

No damage or injuries have been reported.

But for a few moments Tuesday morning, skies over the Midwest delivered a reminder of just how powerful—and unpredictable—space can be.