More Grand Strand residents report booming noises, now in Georgetown. Here’s what we know

A second incident involving loud booming noises startled Grand Strand residents last night. Just days after Horry County Police investigated a loud noise near Conway-Horry County airport, Georgetown County residents took to social media to report two explosive booms late Thursday night.

Commenters said they heard the noises from Murrells Inlet to as far south as Pawleys Island.

“There were no 911 calls and no damage reported anywhere that I can see,” said Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Jason Lesley. “Most of the time those are sonic booms.”

Sonic booms are created when aircraft or other objects move faster than the speed of sound. According to NASA, the resultant noise generates about 110 decibels of sound energy, similar to an explosion or thunderclap.

Lesley said that, while the noises probably weren’t caused by commercial air traffic, they could be related to activity from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina.

Residents on social media also speculated the noises came from thunder, gunshots, fireworks or Tannerite, a brand of explosive firearm targets. Tannerite is legal in South Carolina and has been responsible for other loud booms reported in the state.

It’s unclear what caused the sounds or if they’re related to the noises reported on Sunday, but Horry County public information officer Mikayla Moskov told The Sun News that officers didn’t find any sign of activity when they investigated the area around Highway 378 in Conway.

This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 2:35 PM.