Residents across southeast Texas report loud explosion and shaking homes following meteor event
Category: World News
On the evening of March 21, 2026, residents across southeast Texas experienced a startling phenomenon when a meteor streaked through the sky, resulting ina spectacular sight and a loud sonic boom that echoed through the region.
Reports began flooding into local news stations around 4:45 PM, with viewers describing a loud explosion that rattled homes. One viewer, Luis Jasso, captured the event on video from his home located near Katy, Texas. Hundreds of sky watchers took to social media and the American Meteor Society to share their experiences of witnessing the shooting star.
Waller County Judge Trey Duhon also took to Facebook to express his surprise, stating, "Waller County is BOOMING apparently…. And I’m not talking about growth. Apparently, a meteor exploded earlier today somewhere near or over our County. I heard it inside the house and the house shook from it. It startled Lisa who was outside." His comments resonated with many who felt the pressure wave created by the meteor's disintegration.
Nasa confirmed that the meteor unleashed energy equivalent to 26 tons of TNT upon its disintegration, leading to the pressure wave felt at ground level. The event was captured by the GOES East 19 Satellite, which detected the meteor through its lightning detector, showing up distinctly with a green flash at approximately 4:40 PM.
For many, the sonic boom was a startling reminder of the power of nature. Witnesses reported experiencing not just the sound, but also the physical sensation of the explosion, with some describing it akin to a minor earthquake. This event has sparked interest among meteor enthusiasts and scientists alike, prompting discussions about the frequency and impact of such occurrences.
The meteor's disintegration and the subsequent sonic boom is a phenomenon that, though rare, is not unprecedented. Meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, typically around 25,000 miles per hour. When they reach the lower atmosphere, they can create a bright flash and sometimes explode, resulting ina sonic boom. This is due to the shock wave produced by the meteor traveling faster than the speed of sound, which is approximately 767 miles per hour at sea level.
Such events highlight the dynamic nature of our atmosphere and the celestial activity that surrounds our planet. The American Meteor Society encourages anyone who witnesses such phenomena to report their experiences, contributing to a broader database of meteor sightings that can help scientists understand more about these cosmic occurrences.
For those who missed the event, there are still opportunities to witness similar occurrences. The society advises sky watchers to keep an eye on the sky during meteor showers, which occur multiple times a year. The next major meteor shower, the Perseids, will peak around mid-August, providing another chance to see shooting stars streaking across the night sky.
Residents of Houston and surrounding areas are encouraged to share their photos and experiences of the meteor event, adding to the collective memory of this unique occurrence. Whether through social media or local news outlets, these shared stories document the event and connect communities through shared wonder and excitement.
With the recent meteor event serving both to amaze and to remind us of the vastness of our universe, it’s a good time to look up and appreciate the beauty and mystery of the night sky. Who knows what other surprises await us just beyond our atmosphere?