The Digester

Meteor over Ohio causes sonic boom felt into Pennsylvania

Mar 17th 2026

A meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere about 9am Tuesday, creating a loud sonic boom felt across northern Ohio and into Pennsylvania; NASA says a roughly 6 foot, 7 ton object fragmented over Valley City with possible meteorites near Medina County, but no major debris has been found.

  • Meteor entered the atmosphere about 9am Tuesday and produced a sonic boom heard across northern Ohio and as far east as Pittsburgh and New York state.
  • National Weather Service satellite data and local offices say the boom was caused by a meteor and NWS Pittsburgh posted video of the fireball.
  • NASA says the object was about 6 feet across, weighed about 7 tons, moved southeast at roughly 45,000 mph and fragmented over Valley City, Ohio.
  • Fragments likely fell toward Medina County and could produce meteorites, but no large debris has been reported so far.
  • Officials note most small space rocks burn up in the atmosphere, so only small fragments are expected