Expand / Collapse search
☰

What are frost quakes? That popping noise, tremor could be a sign of cryoseism

By
Published  January 26, 2026 8:31pm CST
Winter Weather
FOX Local
Dangerous winter storm: At least 29 dead

Dangerous winter storm: At least 29 dead

At least 29 people have died as a result of the historic winter storm, according to Associated Press. FOX 4 Dallas' Peyton Yager joined LiveNOW's Andy Mac to talk about a teenager who died in a sledding accident in Texas.

The Brief

    • Frost quakes, a phenomenon also known as cryoseism, are loud ground vibrations caused by frozen soil or groundwater cracking during rapid temperature drops.
    • They are often mistaken for earthquakes but are a different phenomenon that typically occurs within 12–48 hours of a sharp temperature plunge.
    • Frost quakes rarely cause damage, but some studies suggest they can affect roads or buildings.

Did you hear that?

First there’s exploding trees and now there’s frost quakes? But don’t worry, they rarely cause damage, and it sounds way worse than it is.

Frost quakes, or cryoseisms, are basically vibrations or loud popping sounds that are triggered when frozen soil or ground water suddenly cracks.

FILE - Ice-covered trees and power lines block a road during a winter storm in east Nashville, Tennessee, US, on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photographer: Kate Dearman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Dig deeper:

They are more common throughout the Midwest and can often be mistaken for earthquakes, FOX Weather said.

Frost quakes happen when water that is right under the surface freezes during sudden drops in temperatures.

This sudden temperature change can cause cracks in the ground, including rock. 

On the other hand, if there is a lot of snow on the ground, it can actually prevent this phenomenon from happening because the snow acts as an insulator. 

"As little as 6 inches of snow is enough to keep the freezing air from affecting the ground," AccuWeather said. 

Can frost quakes cause damage? 

They could, but it’s very rare. Also, there isn’t enough research on frost quakes to determine their severity. 

A 2023 study conducted in Finland examined the events by installing high-resolution seismic tools to detect the ground’s movements.

Researchers identified two types of seismic events: frost quakes and frost tremors, both of which were linked to rapid temperature drops and were mostly associated with ice fracturing.

The findings suggested that frost quakes do emit enough pressure to damage infrastructure such as roads and buildings, but without widespread reporting, it is difficult to determine how significant the events are.

Occasionally, the phenomenon is detected by seismographs, but beyond that, cryoseisms differs significantly from earthquakes.

The Source: Information for this article was taken from previous reporting by FOX Weather and AccuWeather’s website. This story was reported from San Jose. 

Winter WeatherSevere Weather