Sonic Boom: Tremors Shake the Cape

COURT HOUSE – Did you feel that? Widespread tremors shook the ground here as well as in other parts of Cape May County beginning around 1:20 p.m. Jan. 28. Some have reported feeling upwards of six tremors.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which monitors earthquake activity as it happens, had no reports of an earthquake in southern New Jersey, but has listed a sonic boom 3 kilometers north northeast of Hammonton, N.J. at 1:24 p.m.
“Sonic boom. First of multiple over the following hours after this event. At least 9 sonic booms were recorded in the following hour and a half. Reported from southern New Jersey along the Eastern Seaboard to Long Island, N.Y.,” according to USGS’ event summary.
National Weather Service has also confirmed that the tremors felt were a result of a sonic boom.
“We contacted Lamont Doherty Observatory @ Columbia University who confirmed that it was not an earthquake & likely result of a sonic boom,” stated National Weather Service on Twitter.  
Media reports state the Navy released a statement indicating flight testing done Jan. 28 may have resulted in sonic booms along the New Jersey coastline, according to 6 ABC.
The Navy released the following statement:
“Aircraft from Naval Test Wing Atlantic were conducting routine flight testing in the Atlantic Test Ranges this afternoon that included activities which may have resulted in sonic booms. The test wing is critical to the safe test and evaluation of all types of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft in service and in development and is primarily based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Other military aircraft, including both Navy and Air Force, also frequently use the ranges for testing and training.
“An F-35C from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. was conducting supersonic testing in a cleared military flight area off the east coast earlier today. An F/A-18 aircraft accompanied the F-35C during the test.
“As with all flight operations, the Navy takes precautions to lessen the impact of testing and training activities on the community. Military aircraft routinely conduct supersonic flights offshore in an area called the Test Track, which parallels the entire coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. Test aircraft from the naval air station execute supersonic flights almost daily in the test track, and most of these sonic booms are never felt on land. However, under certain atmospheric conditions there is an increased potential to hear the sound.
“There is a toll-free Noise Disturbance Hotline for people that have questions about operations at NAS Patuxent River. The hotline is staffed by a station representative Monday through Friday during normal business hours. After hours and on weekends, the hotline is transferred to a recording in which callers are instructed to leave their name, contact information, and description and location of the disturbance.
“A representative from NAS Patuxent River begins investigating reported noise events within one business day and follows up with callers as soon as possible. Noise Disturbance Hotline: 1-866-819-9028(Recorded line).