Supersonic Boom Causes South Jersey’s Rumble
Residents in South Jersey were startled on January 13th by a loud boom that shook homes and buildings. The event, which occurred around 2:09 PM, was initially thought to be an earthquake by many residents. However, officials have confirmed that the noise was actually caused by a military jet breaking the sound barrier.
Supersonic Boom Causes South Jersey’s Rumble
The loud boom, which was heard and felt across a wide area of South Jersey, caused confusion and concern among residents. Many people immediately thought that an earthquake had occurred, and some even reported feeling their homes and buildings shaking.
Social media was flooded with posts from people asking if anyone else had felt the boom and what might have caused it.
However, officials from the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard later confirmed that the noise was caused by one of their jets breaking the sound barrier. They explained that the jet was conducting a training exercise in the area and that the loud boom was simply the sound of the jet breaking the sound barrier.
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The military officials apologized for any confusion or concern that the loud noise may have caused among residents.
The sound barrier is the point at which an aircraft moves faster than the speed of sound. When an aircraft breaks the sound barrier, it creates a sonic boom, which is a loud noise that can be heard and felt on the ground.
Supersonic Boom Causes South Jersey’s Rumble
Sonic booms are caused by the shockwaves created by an aircraft moving faster than the speed of sound. The 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard is responsible for providing air defense for the northeastern United States.
It is worth noting that the sound barrier is usually not heard on the ground as it is typically over the ocean or far remote areas. The combination of the supersonic airplane’s flight path with weather patterns caused the sound to be louder than normal.
Our cameras in North Wildwood recorded the moment the boom hit. It caused a visual shake and a loud sound.
Check out the video below.