2008-02-06 - San Jose, CA - Unknown

Possible Explanations For Roaring Noises?

I also experienced the intermittent, fairly loud roaring sound that other people reported here around San Jose on the evening of Feb. 6th at approximately 11:00 PM. It seemed to be a deep, low, intense rumbling off in the distance from my southwest San Jose location, that would stop and then start back up again. I could easily hear it while sitting and listening puzzledly at my computer within my enclosed apartment. I soon went outside and scanned the night sky, but couldn't see any aircraft that might be causing it. I even called a friend on the phone who lives a few doors down, but he didn't hear anything because of the volume of his TV.

I have heard something exactly like this several times before over the years in the Santa Clara Valley, and surmised that it could have been the NASA Ames wind tunnel that was producing it. That's what I had read in the newspaper and saw reported on TV previously when I had heard this same kind of sound in years past.

Also, there is/was? a rocket motor test facility south of San Jose that could also be capable of producing this same kind of noise.

I'm not sure if either the wind tunnel or this rocket test facility are still currently in operation, but they both could be possible explanations for these sounds. Also, I thought it might possibly a loud jet engine at the airport, not following anti-noise procedures. Curfew at Mineta San Jose International Airport begins at 11:00 PM, but jets sometimes still do operate after that.