Suspected

Leesburg, VA

March 21, 2026

Detected at

10:50 PM EDT

March 21, 2026 (02:50 UTC)

Estimated Intensity

Strong (6/10)

A loud boom and bright flash at approximately 10:50 PM EDT on March 20 shook homes across western Loudoun County, with reports from Purcellville to Sterling and into Poolesville, Maryland. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue responded but found no smoke, flames, or hazards. Dominion Energy denied any substation incidents. NAS Patuxent River had issued a noise advisory for supersonic flight testing on March 19-20, though the official window was daytime hours only. The cause remains officially undetermined.

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Cities

Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Arlington, VA Alexandria, VA Germantown, MD Centreville, VA Leesburg, VA Frederick, MD Gaithersburg, MD Reston, VA Columbia, MD Rockville, MD Ashburn, VA Silver Spring, MD Dale City, VA Bethesda, MD McLean, VA Potomac, MD Manassas, VA Waldorf, MD Aspen Hill, MD Wheaton, MD Ellicott City, MD Oak Hill, VA North Bethesda, MD Burke, VA Linton Hall, VA Annandale, VA Lake Ridge, VA Oakton, VA Sterling, VA Glen Burnie, MD Bowie, MD Hagerstown, MD Montgomery Village, MD South Riding, VA Herndon, VA Olney, MD Dundalk, MD Chantilly, VA West Falls Church, VA Springfield, VA North Potomac, MD Towson, MD Chillum, MD