Meteor Sightings Reported Across Chicago Area

If you were awoken by a bright flash of light around 1:30 a.m. Monday, you weren't the only one. Hundreds across the Chicago area and in several Midwest states reported witnessing a bright meteor that flashed across the skies overnight.

At least 175 reports of fireball sightings were sent to the American Meteor Society by 5 a.m. Monday morning. 

One of the images capturing the extraterrestrial event was recorded by a police officer in west suburban Lisle.

The officer said he was on routine patrol around 1:30 a.m. when he saw the meteor shooting through the sky near the East-West Tollway. He “did a double-take” and then immediately turned on his dashcam video, the officer said. 

About 30 miles away, police in northwest suburban Morton Grove were also able to get the meteor sighting recorded on dashcam video: 

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Reports and videos quickly began to surface from others witnessing similar sightings throughout the Chicago area and in several Midwest states. 

The National Weather Service said reports were received from Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The farthest reported sighting came from Ontario, Canada. 

One witness, Marcella Canfora, said she was driving near Milwaukee when she saw the event from her windshield and began recording on her cell phone. She posted the video on Facebook:

After tracing its path from witnesses, the American Meteor Society said it believed the fireball was traveling northeast before it ended somewhere between Sheboygan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 

Many residents in Wisconsin reported seeing the flash followed by sounds of an explosion, which was likely the meteor making its final landing, according to the National Weather Service.  

There were no reports of damage from any possible meteor landing, which may have taken place somewhere in Lake Michigan, the NWS said.

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