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Around 5:30 p.m. local time on May 28, 2026, residents across the Midlands region of South Carolina reported hearing an immense and sudden boom. The sound was so powerful that it startled many people in the area. Initially, the reaction was confusion. Many residents took to social media platforms to share their experiences and wonder if they had just experienced an earthquake. The ground had not shaken, but the noise was overwhelming, leading to speculation about the cause of the disturbance.
However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) responded quickly to clarify the situation. The USGS reported that the event was indeed a sonic boom that shook the air, rather than an earthquake that shook the ground. To confirm this, the agency analyzed seismic data and stated that the magnitude of the event was 0.0. A magnitude of 0.0 indicates no seismic activity, which definitively ruled out an earthquake as the source. This scientific assessment helped calm some of the initial panic, but it did not immediately identify what caused the loud noise.
In the hours following the event, people shared various forms of evidence online. Videos captured from airports and Ring doorbell cameras circulated widely on social media. These recordings not only captured the distinct sound of the boom but also showed buildings and objects rattling from the force of the pressure wave. Some residents even reported feeling the physical impact of the sound. It was described as a heavy pressure that hit them before they heard the noise.
Meteorologist Chris Jackson, who was in South Carolina at the time, provided a vivid description of the physical sensation. He noted that the event felt like a physical blow. In his account, he stated, "It felt like someone shoved me right in my chest an instant before the boom began." This description aligns with the behavior of intense shockwaves, which can be felt as much as they are heard. Such sensations are common in cases of significant sonic booms or atmospheric explosions.