National Weather Service says meteors are likely to blame for New Year's Day boom in Pittsburgh

The National Weather Service said the loud boom and shaking ground reported Saturday by people across a large swath of suburban Pittsburgh likely was caused by an exploding meteor.

Shannon Hefferan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon Township, said a flash was reported on satellite data about 11:26 a.m. over Washington County.

Hefferan said the weather service theorizes the meteor event “happened while falling through the atmosphere.”

The loud explosion heard over SW PA earlier may have been a meteor explosion. This GOES-16 GLM Total Optical Energy product shows a flash that was not associated with lightning. No confirmation, but this is the most likely explanation at this time. pic.twitter.com/ArtHCEA1RT

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) January 1, 2022

Hefferan said a similar event was recorded Sept. 17 in Hardy County, W.Va.

A loud boom and shaking ground was reported by residents across a wide area of Pittsburgh’s suburbs. Many thought it was caused by an earthquake, although Allegheny County officials refuted that early on.

Allegheny County 9-1-1 has received reports of a loud boom, shaking in the South Hills and other reports. We have confirmed that there was no seismic activity and no thunder/lightning. At this point, we have no explanation for the reports, but agencies are continuing to look.

— Allegheny County (@Allegheny_Co) January 1, 2022

In the tweet posted about 1 p.m., Allegheny County confirmed Allegheny County 911 had received reports of a loud boom from several areas, including the South Hills.

Social media reaction to the boom was widespread on Facebook, with residents responding from Stowe Township, Hampton, Carrick, Avalon, Fox Chapel and Aspinwall, as well as the South Hills. People posted about feeling their homes shaking and rattling and hearing a loud noise.

Washington Township resident Christina Osorio thought she heard thunder when her sliding glass door rattled Saturday morning.

“It moved,” Osorio said of the door. “It was like ‘Boom!’ and it sounded like a rumble.”

Osorio said she’s surprised to hear that a meteor is the likely cause.

“It’s kind of scary, but it’s kind of cool at the same time,” she said.

Jill Tarasi, 42, of Hampton said she was concerned about what caused the noise after learning seismic activity has been ruled out.

“It sounded like a house was exploding,” said Tarasi, who was sitting on her couch working on her laptop. “I have friends from all over saying they heard it, too.”

Laurel Ryan, 53, of Avalon said she felt and heard booms she described as “big thumps” twice Saturday morning while sitting in her living room.

Ryan actually experienced an earthquake while living in California.

“I was the only one awake (Saturday), and it felt very similar to the earthquake (in California),” said Ryan, who was interviewed before the National Weather Service made its announcement.