NASA: Meteor Caused Houston 'Booms', Meteorites May Have Landed

Space agency says meteor broke apart, causing pressure wave that led to loud noises heard across the region.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:03pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NASA now believes that a meteor was the cause of the loud "booms" heard across Houston on Saturday. The space agency says the meteor, which weighed about a ton and was around 3 feet in diameter, broke apart in the Bammel area, creating a pressure wave that led to the booms heard by some residents. NASA also says pieces of the meteor could have fallen north of Houston, between Willowbrook and Northgate Crossing, and one Houston woman has reported a possible meteorite crashing through her roof.

Why it matters

The Houston "booms" caused a stir on social media, with many residents speculating about the cause. NASA's confirmation that a meteor was responsible, and the possibility of meteorites landing in the area, is significant as it provides an explanation for the unusual noises and could lead to the discovery of any fallen space rocks.

The details

According to NASA, the meteor was traveling at around 35,000 mph when it broke apart in the Bammel area of Houston. The pressure wave created by the meteor's breakup is what caused the loud "booms" heard by residents. NASA believes meteorites from the meteor may have fallen north of Houston, between the Willowbrook and Northgate Crossing areas. One Houston woman, Sherrie James, has reported that a meteorite crashed through her roof, and the Ponderosa Fire Department confirmed the rock was unusual and likely part of the meteor.

  • The loud "booms" were heard across Houston on Saturday afternoon.

The players

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Sherrie James

A Houston resident who reported that a meteorite crashed through her roof.

Tyler Ellingham

A fire captain with the Ponderosa Fire Department who responded to Sherrie James' call and confirmed the unusual rock was likely part of the meteor.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

NASA and local authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and search for any potential meteorite fragments that may have landed in the area north of Houston.

The takeaway

The Houston "booms" highlight the potential for unexpected celestial events to occur, even in urban areas, and the importance of scientific agencies like NASA in providing explanations and guidance to the public when such incidents happen.