Meteor Crashes Through Texas Home, Causes Sonic Booms

NASA confirms meteor event over Houston area, with possible meteorite fragments landing in residential neighborhood.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A bright fireball was spotted streaking across the skies over southeastern Texas on Saturday afternoon, with NASA confirming it was a meteor that likely broke apart over the Houston area. One local resident, Sherrie James, reported that a suspected meteorite fragment crashed through the roof of her home, leaving a hole and dent in the floor. The American Meteor Society received over 140 reports of the event across the region.

Why it matters

Meteors entering the Earth's atmosphere and potentially impacting populated areas are relatively rare but can pose a risk to public safety. This incident highlights the need for continued monitoring and study of these celestial events to better understand their frequency and potential impacts.

The details

According to NASA, the meteor was around 3 feet across and weighed about a ton. As it plunged through the atmosphere at 35,000 mph, the pressure wave caused sonic booms that were heard by residents. Sherrie James, a Houston-area homeowner, said a suspected meteorite fragment crashed through her roof, leaving a hole and dent in the floor of her daughter's room. The fragment was described as a "big, black rock" about the size of a baseball.

  • The meteor event occurred at 4:40 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • The suspected meteorite fragment struck Sherrie James' home on the same day, Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Sherrie James

A Houston-area resident who reported that a suspected meteorite fragment crashed through the roof of her home.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that confirmed the meteor event over the Houston area and provided details about the size and speed of the space rock.

American Meteor Society

An organization that tracks fireball events around the world and received over 140 reports of the meteor sighting across south-central and southeastern Texas.

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What they’re saying

“I just went in and looked, and I saw the hole, and I saw the dent in the floor.”

— Sherrie James

“It just looked like a rock, and ain't no rocks got no business falling out of the sky.”

— Sherrie James

What’s next

NASA and local authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact size and trajectory of the meteor, as well as the potential impact of any meteorite fragments that may have reached the ground.

The takeaway

This meteor event serves as a reminder of the ongoing risk posed by space debris entering the Earth's atmosphere, and the need for continued monitoring and research to better understand and mitigate these potential hazards.