St. Louis, MO – From St. Louis to Kansas City, Missourians could soon be startled by thunder-like booms echoing through the night as winter temperatures take a sharp plunge. According to the Missouri Geological Survey, those mysterious sounds are likely frost quakes — a rare natural event caused by frozen, water-saturated ground cracking under pressure.
Frost quakes, or cryoseisms, happen when rain or melted snow seeps into the soil, then freezes too fast as temperatures fall below zero. The expanding ice creates intense pressure until the ground suddenly splits apart, releasing energy in a quick, explosive burst that can sound like a gunshot or distant blast.
Meteorologists say Missouri’s forecast — featuring mild rain followed by arctic cold fronts — provides perfect conditions for frost quakes. Areas with little or no snow cover, including parts of eastern and central Missouri, are most at risk since snow usually insulates the ground from deep freezing.
These mini-quakes typically occur between midnight and dawn, when temperatures bottom out. They’re highly localized and brief, but can cause small ground cracks, minor frost heaves, or rattling windows near the epicenter.
Experts recommend improving drainage and keeping water away from basements and foundations before deep freezes to minimize frost-quake effects.
So if you’re awakened by a sudden boom on a calm, icy night from St. Louis to Kansas City, don’t panic — it’s likely Missouri’s frozen ground cracking beneath the winter chill.
