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Seven-Ton Meteor Explodes Over Ohio, Creates Sonic Boom

3/19/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A seven-ton meteor exploded over Northeast Ohio on March 17, 2026, generating a sonic boom.
The meteor traveled about 45,000 mph and broke apart over Valley City, with fragments possible in Medina County.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed the meteor measured nearly 6 feet in diameter.
Eyewitnesses described a bright fireball and a loud noise, initially fearing an explosion.

History

Historical Context

The Tunguska Event on June 30, 1908, was a massive explosion in Siberia, caused by a meteoroid airburst estimated at 10-15 megatons of TNT. This incident flattened approximately 2,000 square kilometers of forest and remains the largest impact event in recorded history. Similar to the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor explosion, it underscores the ongoing risks posed by near-Earth objects and the importance of monitoring such threats.

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Story summary

A seven-ton meteor exploded over Northeast Ohio on March 17, 2026, generating a sonic boom.
The meteor traveled about 45,000 mph and broke apart over Valley City, with fragments possible in Medina County.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed the meteor measured nearly 6 feet in diameter.
Eyewitnesses described a bright fireball and a loud noise, initially fearing an explosion.

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