Dodge County, WI – Dozens of residents across southern Wisconsin flooded social media tonight asking the same question — “Did anyone else just hear that?” as powerful, unexplained booms echoed through the region.
According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the mystery has now been solved. The department confirmed the noise was caused by fighter jet training flights conducted by the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing based in Madison.
In a statement shared from the Dane County Regional Airport, officials said the 115th is performing nighttime training exercises October 14–16, helping pilots stay sharp in low-visibility conditions. These flights can produce sonic booms, which were reported throughout Dodge, Dane, and Jefferson Counties late Tuesday into Wednesday night.
Law enforcement reassured residents there is no danger—the rumbling skies are part of scheduled military operations, not explosions or severe weather.
Still, locals say the booms were intense. “It shook my windows — I thought something blew up,” one Beaver Dam resident wrote online.
Officials say additional booms may continue through tonight, depending on weather and training schedules. Residents are urged not to call 911 unless they suspect an actual emergency.
