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NewsNBC 6 South FloridaMay 30, 2026Miami-Dade

Loud boom heard across Massachusetts confirmed as meteor

A loud boom and ground tremors reported across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Saturday were caused by a meteor entering the atmosphere. Experts from NASA and the American Meteor Society confirmed the object was a natural fireball that fragmented at a high altitude, releasing energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT.

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Why It Matters

Residents across the region experienced significant noise and ground shaking, leading to a surge in 911 calls that prompted local police departments to request that the public reserve emergency lines for actual service needs.

Key Facts

  • A meteor entered the atmosphere at approximately 2:06 p.m. on Saturday.
  • The meteor was estimated to be about 3 feet (one yard) wide.
  • The object traveled at a speed of roughly 75,000 mph.
  • Fragmentation occurred at an altitude of 40 miles above the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border.
  • The energy released during the breakup was equivalent to approximately 300 tons of TNT.
  • The event was not an earthquake, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
  • The object was a natural meteor and not space debris or a satellite.
  • No reports of injuries or property damage were confirmed by regional police departments.
  • Local police departments in Watertown, Cambridge, Newbury, Needham, and Wrentham reported high call volumes and requested residents stop calling 911 for non-emergency inquiries.

Who's Mentioned

personRobert Lunsford“Fire program monitor for the American Meteor Society.”personPete Bouchard“NBC Boston chief meteorologist who confirmed the event was a meteor.”personBill McGrath“Wrentham Police Chief who reported no injuries or damage in his jurisdiction.”organizationNASA“Confirmed the fireball event and provided technical data on speed and altitude.”organizationMassachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security“Monitored reports and confirmed no public safety threat.”personJohn Ebel“Dr. at Boston College’s Weston Observatory.”personPamela Gardner“NBC Boston meteorologist who identified the event as a meteor.”