fireball
File photo
Numerous people along the Washington coast and as far inland as Montesano on Wednesday night reported a loud boom and a flash in the sky, Grays Harbor Emergency Management said.

"Some report their home shaking," the agency said.

"Grays Harbor Emergency Management has contacted the National Weather Service in Seattle about our incident and was told we were not having a severe weather event at the time of the reported ground shaking, loud boom and flash of light in the sky," the agency said.

"The WA State Duty Officer contacted the FAA and the Western Air Defense Sector and was told they had no problems. There was NO earthquake. There are no reports of explosions or crashes on the ground. We will continue our investigation of the incident and will forward any information we receive."

Charles Wallace, deputy director of Grays Harbor Emergency Management, said, "They've got a ton of reports. Some said homes shook. Some saw a flash in the sky. Phones ringing off the hooks."

Wallace said it was possibly "a meteor that came over. No real explanation."

Security video footage of the flash from Fox Island:


Another video was sent in by Trina P. of Hoquiam:


Q13 News Chief Meteorologist Walter Kelley said he believes it was a bolide, which is an extremely bright meteor, especially one that explodes in the atmosphere. In astronomy, it refers to a fireball about as bright as the full moon, and it is generally considered a synonym of a fireball.
Not the Meteor seen tonight but... Tonight out by the coast there were several witnesses that saw and heard the "Bolide". That is a Meteor that is so close to you that you can hear it break the sound barrier. That means it was within 18 miles of you! #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/SidWaOWRES

— Walter Kelley (@Walter_Kelley) March 8, 2018
A resource on meteor questions. https://t.co/26f9cXNM7l
IF the flash in GH county was a bolide meteor, it might have hit the atmosphere an angle of about 45° relative to those who heard a sonic boom. It can take 1 1/2 to 4 mins for the boom to reach ground after the explosion.

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 8, 2018
Meteors can enter the Earth's atmosphere at speeds ranging from 25,000 to as high as 160,000 mph. But, hey, Earth is already hurtling around the Sun at around 67,000 mph. Better yet, we're rushing toward some very spring-like temperatures early next week! 🌎 ☄#wawx

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 8, 2018
A Facebook message to the Grays Harbor Emergency Management page wrote, "We are 17.5 miles out on the ocean commercial fishing and we seen the flash. The whole sky light up followed by a loud boom."

A Q13 News Facebook viewer named Leslie said, "Do you all know what the big flash of light was over the Olympics? We saw it here in Port Orchard. My parents who live in Ocean Shores said that there was a loud boom that shock their whole house. I've heard people saw it in Shelton, too.

"I was driving home on Highway 16 when I saw it. It light up the entire sky like a light switch was just turned on. My parents said it shook the house so hard in Ocean Shores that it knocked a few things off the wall," Leslie said.

Another named Michelle wrote, "I saw a it!! It looked like a huge meteor/fireball over Bellingham, Washington. I had to stop driving because I couldn't believe what I was seeing! It was massive!!"