What Were Those Loud Booms Across Oklahoma Tuesday Night?

You know, living in the shadow of the Wichita Mountains and Fort Sill, home to America's field artillery, we are mostly deaf to the noise the military creates from time to time.

That's not to say we don't ever notice it... Sometimes the sound of freedom is louder than usual, but it's a rare occasion across SWOK.

I will add, it's more noticeable in recent months to locals, but only because of the timing. Generally, I only hear Fort Sill doing military things when there's rain in the immediate forecast.

The rest of Oklahoma is sensitive to it.

Now, before you hop in the comments with the assumption that Oklahoma doesn't hear Fort Sill, there has been an accusation.

When loud booms suddenly rang out across the OKC Metro area, the initial suggestion was Fort Sill... Which is crazy, but not impossible.

Reports came in from as far away as Lake Eufaula... and if you map it out, that's roughly 150 nautical miles as the crow flies.

If that seems like too far away from Fort Sill to be heard, you'd be adjacently correct. There are times of extremely cold weather when sound carries very long distances, but during a very warm end of spring, it's practically impossible.

Where did the booms come from?

We don't have an answer yet, but there are several potential explanations.

1. It could have been Fort Sill... but I didn't hear anything personally. I live pretty close to the West Range. Maybe I really am a deep sleeper.

2. There are reports of oil and gas rigs in Central Oklahoma that could be responsible for the noise. Not that a rig exploded, but big-time noise and booms are common with exploration.

3. Tinker AFB in Midwest City. Maybe the military is flying secret toys around the sky.

4. Here's the most likely candidate. Earthquakes.

Curiously enough, Central OK recorded two earthquakes on Tuesday evening. One near El Reno, the other up by Perry.

All the same, while you can hear earthquakes rumble, they don't necessarily always make loud booms. They can, and they have in the past, but it's not a usual thing.