Last night was not quiet in some neighborhoods of Cincinnati. It was not the typical noise of the city, such as passing trains or fireworks. Residents reported deep, echoing sounds moving through the area, described as threatening. What stood out most was not a single sharp bang, but a low-frequency pressure that seemed to arrive in waves.
When you stop and pay attention, you realize that the city is naturally noisy. However, what residents of the Northside, Clifton, and Camp Washington neighborhoods in Cincinnati, Ohio, are hearing is completely out of the ordinary.
“It’s a very sharp noise in terms of sound pollution. Whatever it is, in terms of machinery, it requires a lot of torque,” said Brendan Marcum, a local resident. “The loudest thing in this entire area is usually the rail yard.”
The noise has been keeping many people awake. According to Marcum, Sunday night was the loudest night ever recorded in the Northside neighborhood. “It almost didn’t stop for several hours,” he said.
The duration of the sounds varies, from a few seconds to several minutes, making them difficult to describe precisely.
“It sounded like a siren mixed with a hum, an oscillation going up and down,” said Shaun Herold.
Herold and his son, Elijah, began hearing the sounds about two weeks ago, and they have occurred every night since.
“My son came to me and said, ‘Dad, the tornado sirens are going off,’” Herold recalled. “It usually starts around 10 p.m. and can last until 3 or 4 in the morning, but it’s very unpredictable.”
“It makes me a little stressed because I don’t know what it is. It’s kind of scary,” said Elijah.
The mysterious noise has sparked intense discussion on social media, especially on Facebook. Residents have been speculating about its origin, ranging from weather warning sirens and construction work to drones, a nearby recycling plant, or the rail yard.
Some residents believe the noise could pose a public safety concern. Herold says he just wants answers and to know whether and when it will stop.
“We hope to get to the bottom of it, figure out what it is, and whether it’s temporary,” he said. “If it’s not temporary, we hope the community comes together, because it’s affecting a lot of people.”
One person told Local 12 that employees at the CSX rail yard believe the source of the noise could be a malfunctioning turbocharger on a diesel train engine.
After the report aired, a CSX spokesperson said the superintendent of the Queensgate rail yard “did not hear any similar noise at our facilities” and suggested it might be coming from another location.
Residents have been reporting the noise to 311, the city’s non-emergency service number. Herold says he was advised to contact the Environmental Protection Agency. A spokesperson for the city manager said the issue is being investigated to determine the source of the noise.
Local 12 also contacted City Councilman Mark Jeffreys, a resident of the Clifton neighborhood. He said he has not heard the noise but sent an email directly to the city manager to see what can be done.
Watch a report on what happened below:
🚨Strange Echoes Over Camp Washington…
Last night wasn't quiet in Camp Washington. Not the usual city noise, like a passing train, or even fireworks. People reported deep, echoing sounds rolling through the neighborhood, the kind that sound really ominous.
What stood out… pic.twitter.com/7CYfhA6u8K
— Skywatch Signal (@UAPWatchers) December 23, 2025
