Loud boom shakes southern tier

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) - What was the "loud boom" numerous Chautauqua County residents say they heard Sunday evening?

News 4 received several phone calls and Facebook messages from viewers in Jamestown, Lakewood, Busti, Kennedy, Delevan, Ashville and elsewhere in Chautauqua County, describing the strange phenomena they experienced.

Our viewers report seeing and feeling something between 6:15 and 6:45. Some people describe hearing a loud sound, "like thunder," "a cannon," or "an explosion." Others say they actually felt tremors. One woman in Jamestown reported her house shook.

As of 8:00 PM, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office dispatch center had received several dozen calls.

So, the question is, what made the noise?

Mark Castner, director of Canisius College's seismograph station, tells News 4 that seismograph measured "no significant movement" at all Sunday afternoon.

Neither did the New England Seismic Network (NESN), nor the United States Geologial Survey (USGS).

That doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility of seismic activity completely. However, geophysicists at the USGS don't classify seismic events as "earthquakes" unless they register a 2.5 magnitude or greater.

Another possibility is a "sonic boom" --the term scientists and meteorologists use to describe the sound associated with shockwaves from an object traveling faster than the speed of sound.

News 4 has reached out to the Niagara Falls Air Force Base, to find out if any planes were flying over Southern Tier Sunday evening.

A news crew is scoping out this story on the ground in Chautauqua County and will provide more updates as they become available.