As arctic air moves over the state, people from Minneapolis to Duluth may soon hear piercing booms echoing through the cold winter evenings. According to the Minnesota Geological Survey, such startling sounds are most likely frost quakes, which occur when water-saturated ground freezes quickly.
Rain or melting snow that seeps into the earth and freezes too quickly causes frost quakes, also known as cryoseisms. As the stored moisture expands into ice, it creates enormous pressure, causing the frozen ground to fracture and release energy with a thunderous crack.
Meteorologists say Minnesota’s current weather pattern is favorable for frost quakes, with damp ground, little snow cover, and severe temperature decreases from above freezing to well below zero in a matter of hours. These conditions are likely to persist all week in central and northern Minnesota, with nightly lows reaching -10°F.
Frost quakes are most likely from midnight to dawn, when temperatures are at their lowest. While rarely dangerous, they can rattle homes, shake windows, and occasionally cause minor cracks in pavement or frost heaves in yards.
To reduce the risk of frost quakes, experts recommend examining drainage and removing water away from foundations before the next cold spell.
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