S.C. sonic boom wasn’t from an earthquake, but what caused it?

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The United States Geological Survey reported a sonic boom that was felt across the Midlands on Thursday afternoon.

S.C. sonic boom wasn’t from an earthquake, but what caused it?. COLUMBIA, S.C. - The United States Geological Survey reported a sonic boom that was felt across the Midlands on Thursday afternoon. According to the USGS, the sonic boom is estimated to have originated in Saint Andrews and was heard and felt across the Midlands on Thursday. There were reports from across Columbia as well as surrounding counties, and even areas outside of the viewing area, such as Darlington and Chesterfield counties. USGS confirmed the boom was not the result of an earthquake. A spokesperson said there was no earthquake activity in or around Columbia, with the last reported tremor being on May 22. The department says that because earthquake magnitude scales are calibrated for seismic waves that travel through the Earth, standard magnitude calculation methods...