Charleston, SC — Suspected MCAS Beaufort Sonic Boom

A loud boom was reported along the Charleston County coastline at approximately 9:16 AM EDT on March 18. MCAS Beaufort had F/A-18 and F-35B fighters scheduled for training exercises along the South Carolina coast from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM that day. The National Weather Service in Charleston received multiple reports and ruled out weather and geological causes, calling the sonic boom explanation "reasonable." A temperature inversion at around 9,000 feet likely trapped and amplified the sound, channeling it toward the coast and into Johns Island and Summerville.