Sonic booms have been heard across Texas in the latest string of strange – and seemingly inexplicable – loud explosions.
Suspected causes ranged from meteors exploding in the atmosphere to the arrival of aliens.
However, a nearby Air Force Base claims the most recent booms may have been the result of training exercises it ran this week.
The mysterious sounds have been heard around the world this year, including in Michigan, Lapland, St Ives, Swansea and Yorkshire – many of which have still not been accounted for.
Sonic booms have been heard across Texas in the latest string of strange – and seemingly inexplicable – loud explosions. A military spokesperson has said live-fire exercises and B-1 ‘Lancer’ bombers (pictured) were responsible
On Wednesday, people began asking about loud noises in central Texas.
Fort Hood military base confirmed the sounds were coming from these base and were part of exercises using artillery and mortar fire, writes KCEN-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station.
A military spokesperson said live-fire exercises and B-1 ‘Lancer’ bombers were responsible.
The US Air Force has neither confirmed nor denied whether these jets were responsible on previous occasions.
The Fort Hood spokesperson warned they were planning additional exercises for Thursday between noon and 2:45pm using US Air Force B-1 ‘Lancer’ bombers.
These were due to be released from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and could cause extra loud explosions, the spokesperson said.
Weather permitting, they were planning to drop 500 to 2,000 lbs of explosives as part of the exercise.
There were no reports of additional sonic booms on Thursday and MailOnline has contacted Fort Hood to inquire if the planned tests went ahead.
At the end of last month residents across southern Arizona were also left baffled by similar noises.
The booms were heard alongside rumbles across southern Arizona, ranging from Oro Valley to Picture Rocks, and Douglas to Nogales.
Several people reported hearing noises at around 20:00 on November 28, and at 15:00 on November 29.
And the bizarre activity was even strong enough to be picked up by the seismic monitoring station at the University of Arizona Geosciences Department.
Fort Hood military base confirmed the sounds were coming from these base and were part of exercises using artillery and mortar fire
The Fort Hood spokesperson warned they were planning additional exercises for Thursday between noon and 2:45pm using US Air Force B-1 ‘Lancer’ bombers
Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix claimed it was responsible for the mysterious noises – although it still has no direct evidence.
The base said it was hosting a training exercise with Singapore, with an influx of planes in the area.
The exercises started on November 27, and ran through to December 11.
A statement said: ‘The areas around Luke and the BMGR may experience more noise than usual as a result of the increased air activity and types of aircraft involved.
‘Aircrafts involved will include F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle and Heron 1UAS.
The bizarre activity in Arizona at the end of last month was even strong enough to be picked up by the seismic monitoring station at the University of Arizona Geosciences Department
‘There will be an increased military presence with military movements along Highway 85 south of Gila Bend as military position themselves within the Barry M. Goldwater range.’
The mysterious sounds have been heard around the world this year.
This year alone, similar noises have been reported 64 times this year, in locations including Michigan, Lapland, St Ives, Swansea and Yorkshire.
And while the booms in Texas and Arizona may have an explanation, many others haven’t.
Mysterious booms have been reported 64 times this year, in locations including Michigan, Lapland, St Ives, Swansea and Yorkshire. Incidents are becoming more frequent according to some reports.
Alabama, November 14
Cause: Unknown, suggested explanations include a sonic boom from an aircraft or a meteorite
The Birmingham National Weather Service tweeted: ‘Loud boom heard: we do not see anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS indicating an earthquake.’
The service suggested that the sound was either caused by a sonic boom from aircraft, or a meteorite from the Leonid shower.
But Nasa has since cast doubt on these explanations.
Speaking to ABC 3340, Bill Cooke, head of Nasa’s Meteoroid Environment Office, said that the boom could have been caused by a supersonic aircraft, a ground explosion, or a bolide – a large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere unrelated to the Leonid shower.
While the noise was picked up by the US Geological Survey, data suggests that the boom wasn’t the result of an earthquake.
The boom may have been caused by a military flight by a supersonic jet, although the US Air Force is yet to confirm this.
The Bama Boom is just one of many mysterious booms heard worldwide this year.
Idaho, November 15
Cause: Unknown
The day after the boom in Alabama, a similar noise was heard in Idaho.
Multiple people reported hearing a loud boom over the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley around 23:00.
Many of the reports described the sound as being similar to a sonic boom, although its cause and location remain unclear.
Cairns, October 10
Cause: Unknown, suggested explanations include a meteorite, a gas bottle explosion or military plane
On October 10, a boom was heart over Cairns, Queensland that had the city baffled.
While the noise in Alabama was picked up by the US Geological Survey (graph pictured), data suggests that the boom wasn’t the result of an earthquake
Residents’ theories ranged from a meteorite to a gas bottle explosion or military plane.
A FA-18 Hornet plane was heard flying over Cairns the previous night, but no jets were flying on the night when the ‘explosion’ happened.
The Birmingham National Weather Service tweeted: ‘Loud boom heard: we do not see anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS indicating an earthquake’
Abergavenny, May 11
Cause: Unknown
Residents in Abergavenny, Wales, were also shocked after they heard a series of booms on May 11.
James Spann, AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist tweeted that no explanation had been provided by USGS, NOAA or EMA
Speaking to the Abergavenny Chronicle, one resident said: ‘It nearly gave me a heart attack it was that loud. At first I thought it was shotgun blast or a firework, but it was way too loud for that. It sounded more like a tank going off.
‘My husband said it was probably mini meteors colliding with the earth, but have you ever heard such nonsense?’
Again, the source of the Welsh booms have remained unsolved.
But other booms this year have had explanations behind them.
Other booms have been known to be caused by secret military missions. On May 7, a boom rattled Central Florida, caused by a military mission ending at the Kennedy Space Centre (stock image)
Lapland, November 17
Cause: Falling meteor
On November 17, a boom in Lapland was caused by a fireball from a falling meteor.
Footage showed a bright light in the sky over Inari in Finland – but the flash was so intense it was also seen in Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in northern Norway.
Stargazers reported seeing the sky ‘light up like day’ for a few seconds alongside a loud noise as the space rock plummeted towards Earth.
Eyre Peninsula, October 27
Cause: Falling meteor
On October 27, another boom was heard over Eyre Peninsula in Australia, as a bright blue meteor shot across the sky.
On November 17, a boom in Lapland was caused by a fireball from a falling meteor. Footage showed a bright light in the sky over Inari in Finland – but the flash was so intense it was also seen in Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in northern Norway
The loud bangs weren’t caused by the fireball hitting Earth, and instead were caused by the change in pressure as the meteor soared through the air.
Speaking to News.com.au, Renee Sayers, a spokeswoman from the Desert Fireball Network, explained: ‘The shock wasn’t from it hitting the ground; It is like a sonic boom shock, a pressure shock.’
Central Florida, May 7
Cause: Supersonic flight testing
Other booms have been known to be caused by secret military missions.
On May 7, a boom rattled Central Florida, caused by a military mission ending at the Kennedy Space Centre.
The US Air Force tweeted: ‘The Air Force #X37B #OTV4 has returned from orbit and landed safely at @NASAKennedy.’
| November 18 – Michigan | ||||||
| November 19 – Damascus – caused by airstrikes | ||||||
| November 17 – Lapland – caused by meteor | ||||||
| November 15 – Idaho | ||||||
| November 14 – Alabama | ||||||
| November 8 – Tennessee | ||||||
| November 4 – Oregon | ||||||
| November 3 – Minnesota | ||||||
| November 1 and 2 – New Jersey and San Diego | ||||||
| October 27 – Eyre Peninsula – caused by meteor | ||||||
| October 25 – New Jersey | ||||||
| October 20 – British Columbia | ||||||
| October 17 – North Carolina | ||||||
| October 10 – Detroit | ||||||
| September 25 – St Ives | ||||||
| September 22 – Temple Terrace, Florida | ||||||
| September 17 – Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts – caused by meteor | ||||||
| September 7 – Moranbah, Australia | ||||||
| May 30 – Tauranga, New Zealand | ||||||
| May 26 – Kent | ||||||
| May 24 – Texas | ||||||
| May 19 – Massachusetts | ||||||
| May 16-17 – Lincolnshire | ||||||
| May 13 – Ontario – caused by earthquake | ||||||
| May 12 – Tennessee | ||||||
| May 11 – Abergavenny, Wales | ||||||
| May 7 – Florida – caused by secret military mission | ||||||
| April 25 – San Diego | ||||||
| April 17 – Michigan | ||||||
| April 15 – Michigan | ||||||
| April 9 – Maine | ||||||
| April 3 – Texas | ||||||
| March – Vermont | ||||||
| March 27 – Cornwall | ||||||
| March 26 – Arizona | ||||||
| March 25 – Gordonvale, Australia | ||||||
| March 22 – Wisconsin | ||||||
| March 13 – Virginia – caused by earthquake | ||||||
| March 12 – New York | ||||||
| March 11 – Kentucky | ||||||
| March 5 – Montreal | ||||||
| March 2 – Nottingham | ||||||
| February 27 – Louisiana | ||||||
| February 13 – Ohio | ||||||
| February 12 – Indiana | ||||||
| February 10 – Pennsylvania | ||||||
| January 30 – New Orleans | ||||||
| January 30 – Washington D.C | ||||||
| January 29 – Maryland | ||||||
| January 24 – San Diego | ||||||
| January 20 – Swansea | ||||||
| January 19 – New Orleans | ||||||
| January 18 – North Carolina | ||||||
| January 17 – Canterbury | ||||||
| January 16 – Beddgelert, Wales | ||||||
| January 16 – Greater Manchester | ||||||
| January 13 – Marseilles | ||||||
| January 12 – North Yorkshire | ||||||
| January 6 – Louisiana | ||||||
| January 6 – Oregon | ||||||
| January 5 – Liverpool | ||||||
| January 4 – Missouri | ||||||
| January 4 – Washington | ||||||
| January 3 – Connecticut | ||||||