COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The United States Geological Survey reports a sonic boom that was felt across the Midlands Thursday afternoon.
According to the USGS, the sonic boom is estimated to have originated in Saint Andrews and was heard and felt across the Midlands on Thursday.
WIS received reports from across Columbia as well as surrounding counties, and even areas outside of the viewing area, such as Darlington and Chesterfield counties.
USGS confirmed to WIS that the boom was not the result of an earthquake. A spokesperson said there was no earthquake activity in or around Columbia, with the last reported tremor being on May 22.
The department says that because earthquake magnitude scales are calibrated for seismic waves that travel through the Earth, standard magnitude calculation methods do not apply to sonic booms.
Due to these factors, a magnitude of 0.0 was manually assigned. USGS says the location and origin time are also approximate and are based on the arrival times of the sound waves at seismic stations as well as the locations of eyewitness reports.
WIS has reached out to multiple other agencies, including the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Fort Jackson, and Shaw Air Force Base, to verify the cause.
The National Weather Service confirmed it felt and heard the boom at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
To report any loud booms or tremors to the United States Geological Survey, click/tap here.
This is a developing story. Stay with WIS for updates.
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