Meteorite Crashes Through Roof of House Near Houston

No one was injured, but a woman was startled when the space rock pierced her home's roof, ricocheted off the floor, and struck the ceiling.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:41pm

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A meteor that streaked across Texas on Saturday afternoon produced several meteorites, including one that tore a fist-size hole in the roof of a house north of Houston. The meteorite crashed through the roof, hit the floor in a bedroom, and then ricocheted and struck another part of the ceiling. The homeowner, Sherrie James, was startled by the incident but no one was injured.

Why it matters

Meteorite strikes on homes are extremely rare, with only a few dozen confirmed cases worldwide. This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of space debris and the potential risks it can pose to homeowners, even in populated areas. It also raises questions about preparedness and insurance coverage for such unlikely events.

The details

The meteorite, estimated to weigh about a ton and have a diameter of three feet, crashed through the roof of Sherrie James' two-story house in an unincorporated area of northwest Harris County around 4:45 pm on Saturday. It hit the floor in a bedroom, ricocheted, and struck another part of the ceiling. No one was injured, but James was startled by the loud boom. The fire department responded and confirmed the object was a meteorite.

  • The incident occurred around 4:45 pm on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • NASA said the fireball that produced the meteorites became visible 49 miles above Stagecoach, northwest of Houston, around 4:40 pm.

The players

Sherrie James

The homeowner whose house was struck by the meteorite.

Fred C. Windisch

Chief of the Ponderosa Fire Department, who responded to the incident and confirmed the object was a meteorite.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that tracked the fireball and provided details on the meteorite's trajectory and size.

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What they’re saying

“Oh no, that looks like a meteor piece,”

— Sherrie James

“We heard a big boom when I was in my bedroom, and I didn't know what it was.”

— Sherrie James

“It was the first time I could recall something like that happening in the area, and I've been here for decades.”

— Fred C. Windisch, Chief, Ponderosa Fire Department

What’s next

NASA said it is continuing to investigate the incident and analyze the meteorite to learn more about its composition and origin.

The takeaway

This rare meteorite strike on a home serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of space debris and the potential risks it can pose, even in populated areas. It highlights the need for further research and preparedness measures to protect against such unlikely but potentially destructive events.