Daytime 'Fireball' Seen in Southern State Skies, including Alabama: See Meteorite Fragment that Likely Caused the Fireball

It's not every day that a "fireball" is seen blazing across the sky, but this amazing phenomenon happened on Thursday, June 26, 2025. People from 5 different southern states saw the fireball, including those from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Experts weigh in on what likely caused the fireball seen in the sky.

Fireball captured on dashcam, credit: Josh Grant

The image of the meteor (seen above) was taken from a dash cam video by Josh Grant of Warner Robins, Georgia as it came down looking like fireball in the sky.

National Weather Service Reported 'Sonic Boom' Caused by Fireball

The U.S. National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, many people reported feeling a sonic boom from the meteor seen entering the atmosphere.

CNN reported that The American Meteor Society weighed in saying that the fireball seen on Thursday was "brighter than a full moon."

Operations Manager for the American Meteor Society, Mike Hankey, said: "It looks to be a daytime fireball that caused a sonic boom. This is usually indicative of a (meteor) dropping a fireball, but not always."

CNN reported that it is "quite rare for sonic booms to be heard on the ground when a fireball occurs."

A meteorite reportedly hit a home in Henry County, Georgia, and a fragment can be seen in the post below.

Source: CNN

Meteorologist Riley Hale Posted an Image of a Meteorite Fragment on Facebook

Chief Meteorologist Riley Hale of WRDW posted about the meteorite fragment (seen below). The photo was taken by Henry County Emergency Management after responding to the call.

Additional details from the post:

"No one was home was injured, but it went straight through their roof, ceiling, and then shattered on impact on their favorite laminate flooring."

Meteorite fragment in the palm of a hand

Source: Riley Hale on Facebook

Statistical Fact

Washington University in St. Louis reported that according to the Meteoritical Society, "1924 meteorites have been found and verified in the United States (finds & falls) from 1807 through February, 2024."

Sources:

Washington University in St. Louis

The Meteoritical Society

Virginia Residents See 'Mysterious' Black Smoke Ring in the Sky; No Fires Reported

On Tuesday, 13 August 2024 residents of Williamsburg, Virginia saw a mysterious black smoke ring in the sky, took videos and photos of what they saw, and sent them to News Channel 8. The strange smoke ring was not directly tied to any known fire in the area. 

Graphic representation close up of a black smoke ring (credit: Dall-E)

Williamsburg Residents Send Photos to the Local News Station

WAVY News Channel 8 received photos and videos from many residents. They reported the following photos.

Ron Stepp was working near Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia when he first noticed it in the sky. He said it lasted for about 10 minutes.

Joshua Bean sent in the photo seen below.

Black smoke ring seen in Williamsburg sky. photo credit: Joshua Bean

Another resident, Peggy Olszyk, sent in a photo of what she saw in the sky around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Her photo can be seen below.

photo credit: Peggy Olszyk

Renee Fisher sent in the photo seen below.

What Caused the Black Smoke Ring in Williamsburg Remains a Mystery

Many residents were perplexed by the black smoke ring seen in the sky until it disappeared.

What's even stranger is that the James City County Fire Department was asked if there were any reports of a fire at the time of the black ring in the sky. The fire chief was not aware of any fires that could have caused the singular black smoke ring.

The cause of the black smoke ring in the sky remains a mystery.

Watch the YouTube video below of the black smoke ring captured by Crystal West.