Detroit, MI – Residents across Detroit and Grand Rapids may soon be startled by loud, thunder-like booms echoing through the night as Michigan’s winter chill deepens. According to the Michigan Geological Survey, these startling sounds are likely frost quakes — sudden cracking events caused by frozen ground under pressure.
Also known as cryoseisms, frost quakes occur when rain or melting snow saturates the soil, then freezes too quickly. As that trapped water expands into ice, it creates extreme stress until the frozen ground splits apart — releasing energy with an explosive pop or rumble that can sound like a gunshot or small earthquake.
Meteorologists say Michigan’s current pattern of mild, wet conditions followed by sharp arctic cold fronts is a perfect setup for frost quakes. The risk increases when there’s little snow cover to insulate the ground — particularly across southern and central Michigan, including the Detroit metro area, Lansing, and the Lake Michigan shoreline near Grand Rapids.
These events typically occur between midnight and dawn, when temperatures are at their lowest. While frost quakes are rarely damaging, they can cause minor cracks in pavement, driveways, or home foundations.
Experts recommend ensuring good drainage around properties and keeping water away from basements and foundations before the next deep freeze.
So if you’re awakened by a sudden boom on a calm, icy night from Detroit to Grand Rapids, it’s not thunder or fireworks — it’s Michigan’s frozen ground snapping under the stress of winter.
