Loud Booms Expected To Be Heard Around Wisconsin The Next Few Weeks

Over the next few weeks, Wisconsin residents should expect to hear loud boom sounds coming from military training exercises.

In a news release, the Wisconsin National Guard announced that nearly 60 aircraft and 1,000 service members from the National Guard, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy would participate in the annual Northern Lightning Counterland training exercise. The training exercises will be held at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center from August 9 to August 20.

The training is a tactical-level exercise that replicates "today's air battle-space using current and future weapons platforms."

"Northern Lightning has evolved into one of the finest exercises in the nation, simulating offensive counter-air and surface-to-air attacks. Our goal is to provide a joint environment where units from multiple branches of the U.S. military can work together to accomplish training that is essential to their operational readiness," said Lt. Col. Ben Staats, the exercise director.

The news release states that due to the low altitudes of flying, supersonic bombs can be heard in the morning around 9:30 a.m. and in the afternoon around 4 p.m. daily, but flight times are subject to change.

"We are grateful for the continued support and understanding of Central Wisconsin communities as we train to protect our nation and simulate combat conditions," Staats added.

The counties likely to hear the loud booms are: Adams, Brown, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jackson, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Portage, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Waupaca, Winnebago, and Wood.