The bright white flash and accompanying squiggly smoke trail you observed could potentially be attributed to several phenomena. One common explanation is a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere. As meteors travel through the atmosphere at high speeds, they create bright streaks of light called meteors or shooting stars, which might appear as a sudden, blinding flash. The squiggly smoke trail you mentioned is known as a meteor train, a visible trail of smoke caused by the superheated air and vaporized material from the meteor.
Alternatively, this event could be related to a rocket launch or a missile test nearby. Such events can generate bright flashes in the sky and leave distinct smoke trails as the rocket or missile moves through the atmosphere. Depending on your location in the northeastern U.S., it could be related to naval or aerospace operations from facilities or installations in the region.
Another possibility could be an unusual atmospheric phenomenon, such as a lightning bolt or electrical discharge during stormy conditions, which might create a momentary bright flash and unusual patterns in the sky.
If many people observed the same event, local news outlets, astronomers, or science agencies might have reported on it or identified the source. Consider checking local news reports, social media, or websites tracking celestial events for more detailed information.