Boom over the Tri-Cities - Jun 18, 2026, 8:34 PM
Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 8:34 PM · 3 months ago
We need at least two reports that note which direction it came from (ideally from different spots) before we can triangulate an origin.
Add your direction →Collecting reports
Reports are still coming in. We compare every boom against seismic records, 911 dispatch activity, weather and known local sources. If we can pin down what it was, this is where it will appear.
More reports make this far more likely, especially from different directions.
What it lines up with
Automatic cross-references. Suggestive, not proof.
BNSF Pasco Rail Yard (rail) - about 8.1 km from the estimated origin.
A USGS M1.84 earthquake 11 km away, 31h apart.
Conditions weren’t especially sound-carrying. (26°C, wind 6 km/h, 61% cloud)
evening on a weekday.
Waxing crescent (16% lit).
Transformer and substation faults set off both a boom and an outage. See who else nearby is out, and when it is coming back.
isthepowerout.comWhat people reported
Each number matches a dot on the map above.
Loud windows shake, house jumps
What do you think it was?
Cast your vote. The data’s nearest match: rail - BNSF Pasco Rail Yard.
Discussion
Saw the same thing? Have a theory or evidence about what it was? Weigh in.