Parts of the Jersey Shore, Long Island and even Connecticut were rocked by some shaking this afternoon, with early speculation that the region was experiencing an earthquake. Beginning just after 2 p.m., people began Tweeting about feeling multiple tremors:
felt another tremor. . they arent declaring it an official earthquake yet #NewJersey #earthquake
— Arctic Sekai (@ArcticSekai) January 28, 2016
Windows shaking violently at work today 3 times with no explanation #tremor #newjersey #nj #earthquake
— Happiknits/Becca (@Happiknits) January 28, 2016
Soooo I'm in Manahawkin #NewJersey and that's the 5th tremor in the last hour or so. #earthquake? First time I've ever felt that
— Katie Ballinger (@KTStarks) January 28, 2016
I felt the tremor around 2:32 pm, Connecticut any news? #connecticut #tremor #NewJersey
— Alicia Milian (@AliciaIMilian) January 28, 2016
At this time, earthquake rumors have been debunked and the likely culprit identified as a sonic boom.
Not an earthquake but a sonic boom in New Jersey: https://t.co/eUr4sB28Wm pic.twitter.com/TQFlkGr633
— USGS (@USGS) January 28, 2016
We contacted Lamont Doherty Observatory @ Columbia University who confirmed that it was not an earthquake & likely result of a sonic boom.
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 28, 2016
The New York City Emergency Management confirmed that neither the US Geological Survey nor the Earth Observatory at Columbia University have "identified any seismic activity at this time." The boom appears to have originated in the town of Hammonton, New Jersey and there's speculation it was caused by a military aircraft of some kind in the vicinity.
Since many have asked: A sonic boom travels through the air w/ the airplane so it arrives at different ground locations at different times.
— USGS (@USGS) January 28, 2016
Reports in that a military aircraft on training mission intentionally broke sound barrier. Tremors not weather-related & not #earthquake
— Cecily Tynan (@CecilyTynan) January 28, 2016
Exactly what the military wants you to believe.
Update: Defense officials are now saying the sonic boom was caused by testing of F-35C "Lighting II" stealth Joint Strike Fighters.
Defense officials say sonic boom caused by an F-35 being tested out of the Naval test facility at Patuxent River, Maryland. Mystery solved.
— Liz Cho (@LizCho7) January 28, 2016
Yup, definitely not alien technology or anything like that.
