Science & Tech
Mystery Fireball Lights Up Florida Night Sky
Clear Facts
- A bolide meteor exploded high in the atmosphere above the Gulf Coast of Florida on Monday night.
- The National Weather Service (NWS) in Tallahassee reported the incident was detected by the GOES Lightning Mapper at 11:50 p.m.
- No damage or injuries were reported as a result of the meteor explosion.
A large and exceptionally bright meteor, called a bolide, exploded in the upper atmosphere over the Gulf Coast of Florida late Monday night, capturing the attention of both residents and weather experts.
The Tallahassee office of the National Weather Service confirmed the event, noting detection by satellite technology designed to track lightning activity.
“It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s a bolide meteor! A bolide is a large, bright meteor that explodes in the atmosphere. Around 11:50 pm ET last night, one streaked across the sky and exploded high above the Gulf—no harm reported. GLM even picked up the energy signal! #FLwx”
According to the NWS, the initial report came from a citizen in Wakulla County who witnessed the explosion and alerted authorities.
“We first learned of last night’s bolide meteor after a caller from Wakulla County reported seeing it last night. His report was confirmed by this satellite product which normally tracks lightning.”
A bolide is a type of fireball, referring to meteors that are exceptionally bright and can be seen across great distances.
NWS Tallahassee verified that there were no injuries or property damage from this sky event.
Stay tuned for more updates as we keep you informed about unusual events impacting our country.
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