Rare Daytime Fireball Streaks Across the Southern U.S., Seen in Multiple States

A brilliant fireball streaked across the skies of the southern United States around midday on June 26, stunning residents from Georgia to Virginia and prompting over 140 official sighting reports. Experts now say the phenomenon was likely a rare daylight meteor — and it may not be the only one.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston, South Carolina, satellite-based lightning detection systems recorded a bright streak in a clear portion of the sky above the North Carolina–Virginia border. “There were many reports of a fireball,” the office stated on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the visual streak was confirmed in a cloud-free zone — a strong sign that this was not a lightning event but something more cosmic.

Local agencies quickly weighed in. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia posted on Facebook that they had been notified by the NWS that the bright object seen across the region was likely a meteor. “They believe more could possibly be on the way,” the department added, sparking curiosity — and a few concerns — from residents.

A Dashcam Catches the Action

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence came from a resident in South Carolina. Kathryn Farr captured dashcam footage of the fireball as it streaked across the daytime sky. “Not something you see every day,” she commented in her Facebook post, echoing the thoughts of dozens who witnessed the rare event.