Hartford, CT – From Hartford to New Haven, residents could soon hear loud, startling booms echoing through the night as winter’s first major cold snaps move in. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), these sounds are likely frost quakes — sudden cracking events caused by the rapid freezing of saturated ground.
Frost quakes, or cryoseisms, occur when rain or melted snow seeps into the soil and freezes too quickly. As that trapped moisture expands into ice, it builds up pressure until the frozen ground fractures. The release of that energy produces a sharp, explosive sound that can rattle windows or even briefly shake nearby homes.
Meteorologists say this winter’s pattern — mild, wet weather followed by sudden arctic cold fronts — makes central and southern Connecticut particularly vulnerable. Conditions become ideal when the ground is soaked but lacks a thick layer of snow to insulate it from the cold.
These events typically strike overnight, between midnight and dawn, when temperatures plunge from near freezing to below zero within hours. Frost quakes are brief but can leave small cracks in pavement or minor damage to foundations.
Experts recommend clearing standing water, maintaining good yard drainage, and avoiding water pooling near homes before hard freezes hit.
So if you’re awakened by a thunder-like boom on a calm, icy night from Hartford to New Haven, don’t panic — it’s just winter itself, cracking beneath your feet.
