Massive fireball reported across Midwestern sky

CNN ^ | 04/14/2010 | CNN Wire Staff

[autumnraine]

Authorities in several Midwestern states were flooded Wednesday night with reports of a gigantic fireball lighting up the sky, the National Weather Service said.

The fireball was visible for about 15 minutes beginning about 10 p.m., said the National Weather Service in Sullivan, Wisconsin, just west of Milwaukee.

"The fireball was seen over the northern sky, moving from west to east," said the NWS in the Quad Cities area, which includes parts of Iowa and Illinois.

"Well before it reached the horizon, it broke up into smaller pieces and was lost from sight," the service said. "Several reports of a prolonged sonic boom were received from areas north of Highway 20, along with shaking of homes, trees and various other objects including wind chimes," it said.

It said the fireball was seen across parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. CNN affiliate WISN-TV said that people in Ohio also saw it.

[zeugma]

BFL, thanks for the link!

[onemiddleamerican]

Is this the thread you were looking for? I only remember this one because it had "Breaking" in the title.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

You Know The Drill
Click the Pic

Hey! FReepers!
Help Fill The Tank!
How About It? Huh?
It Ain't Askin' Too Much
Ya Know....

[TigersEye]

That’s it! Thank you. There were a few FReeper eye witnesses reporting in.

[Ladysmith]

They’re fun! My brother orders them and we’ll set them off from the boat in the middle of the lake at night. :o)

[A Strict Constructionist]

Boy, Mork and Mindy have really changed. It’s uch a shame when you lose you looks along with your mind. Mindy was a babe.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Pinging the unidentified aerial phenomena list..

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping. Anyone going with space junk?

[GOPJ]

The “visible for 15 minutes” statement doesn’t seem right.

Drudge has different video cams catching the show - that might be where the time estimates came from...

[SunkenCiv]

· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·

[HereInTheHeartland]

I heard on the news this thing was 30 feet in diameter as it was breaking up.
Potentially catastrophic I would think.

[SunkenCiv]

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[KoRn]

WOW!!!!

[LibertyRocks]

So wish I would have seen this! I know my neighbors were outside and probably did (they were keeping us awake talking and drinkin’). The weatherman at one of our local stations was saying that several people called in last night.
[I’m in North Central Wisconsin - Wausau]

Fascinating videos of it — absolutely HUGE looking in some areas a little further south of us.

[LibertyRocks]

Yep, that’s the one... Absolutely HUGE isn’t it?

[Recovering Hermit]

Whoa!

[Recovering Hermit]

Pretty cool but looks like a MAJOR fire hazard!

[steveo]

May have been referring to the visible trail...

[Ladysmith]

Burns about 10 minutes. By the time it burns out and the lattern hits the ground, it’s more than safe. Needless to say, you want it to be able to lift off and float high above trees and all. Got to watch those mild breezes - they can take you by surprise.