A large explosion was heard and felt near Lakeland and Winter Haven, Florida — located between Orlando and Tampa about 2:00 p.m. ET. Early speculation is the sound was caused by a sonic boom, as jet aircraft sound was also heard in the vicinity. Nothing is confirmed at this time. Later, a report was posted of an explosive sound heard near North Tampa.
Nothing mentioned on Polk County Twitter account as of 2:20 p.m. ET.
UPDATE: Tampa Bay Times is reporting that two F-15 fighters were given permission by NORAD to fly at supersonic speed — in excess of 760 mph — over the Gulf of Mexico, according to Canadian Air Force Lt. Marco Chouinard, a NORAD spokesman. The report also mentioned that the jets were not responding to a specific incident. This is not a confirmed connection to the noise, however.
A meteor entering the atmosphere at supersonic speed is also a speculation regarding a possible cause of the boom.
UPDATE 2 (December 11, 2017):
The loud noise reported Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of Tampa was likely the result of a sonic boom caused when 2xF-15s from the 159FW, operating under the direction of #NORAD, went supersonic to meet mission requirements. An investigation of the event is currently underway pic.twitter.com/eyvEaYRYUI
— NORAD & USNORTHCOM (@NoradNorthcom) December 11, 2017
Air Force 1 with President Donald Trump was scheduled to depart Jackson, Mississippi about 11:45 a.m. ET and arrive in West Palm Beach, Florida about 2:45 p.m., leading to speculation that a fighter jet may have been flying supersonic in the area.
Several unexplained booms have been reported around the world this past year. Recently a loud boom was reported near Birmingham, Alabama on November 14, 2017; and on October 29, 2017 a loud boom was heard in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The Alabama boom was even recorded by the US Geological Survey Lakeview Retreat near Centreville, Alabama on November 15, 2017 about 1:39 p.m. CST.
See Arlington Cardinal Remember that Loud Boom on October 30 Near Chicago? There Have Been Many Reports Worldwide this Year, Including Alabama
DEVELOPING …
Did anyone else in lakeland just hear that giant explosion noise or am I just going insane
— Carson? (@carson_rockett) December 9, 2017
@FOX13News loud explosion like sound followed by what could have been sound of jet aircraft hear from south Lakeland to Winter Haven. Homes in South Lakeland rattled. @MarkWilsonTV
— Nick McSwizzlesticks (@joemama1321) December 9, 2017
Explosion in lakeland? @LakelandPD @BAYNEWS9DESK
— Jeff (@shavedmonkey1) December 9, 2017
Explosion ? in Lakeland area ?
— E.T. (@TamplonaBULL) December 9, 2017
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@FOX13News any idea what it was? @PolkCoSheriff office in Winter Haven confirms noise, no idea what it was
— Nick McSwizzlesticks (@joemama1321) December 9, 2017
@FOX13News loud explosion like sound followed by what could have been sound of jet aircraft hear from south Lakeland to Winter Haven. Homes in South Lakeland rattled. @MarkWilsonTV
— Nick McSwizzlesticks (@joemama1321) December 9, 2017
@MacDill_AFB was that #sonicboom today coming from a jet over there? It shook houses from Tampa to Lakeland.
— Niobi (@kopntoutantalus) December 9, 2017
@LakelandPIO any idea what that loud explosion heard across Lakeland was? Sonic boom?
— E. Hizzle (@ERock_85) December 9, 2017
Sonic boom heard from Winter Haven thru Lakeland & North Tampa. Outside and heard the jet engines 1st, then like both barrels of a shotgun
— Bret & Jennifer (@twotallones) December 9, 2017
We are aware of a loud sound heard across the Bay Area. If you have security cameras, please review and send us footage of the timeframe when you heard the noises.
— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) December 9, 2017