Loud Booms Rattle Midwest As Frost Quakes Strike

Residents across the Midwest and parts of the South were jolted awake this week by a series of mysterious loud booms and brief ground shakes, sparking confusion, concern, and a flurry of calls to local authorities. But as it turns out, these unsettling noises weren’t the result of earthquakes, explosions, or even a mischievous neighbor with fireworks. Instead, meteorologists and geologists say the culprit is a rare, natural phenomenon known as an ice quake, or frost quake—a seismic event triggered by the sudden cracking of frozen, water-saturated soil and bedrock.

According to WZTV in Nashville, Tennessee, the ideal conditions for ice quakes were in place on January 26 and 27, 2026, following heavy rain and snow. As temperatures plummeted to extreme lows, water that had seeped into the ground quickly froze and expanded, building up pressure until the earth itself fractured with a resounding boom. These events, while startling, are harmless, say experts. "After heavy rain or snow, water seeps into the ground. When the weather turns extremely cold, this water freezes quickly and expands in the soil or bedrock. The pressure from the expanding ice can cause the ground to crack, resulting in a loud boom or bang," WZTV reported.

The phenomenon wasn’t limited to Tennessee. In Kentucky, FOX 56 received multiple reports of loud booms in southern cities like London, Monticello, and Corbin, all following a weekend blanketed by several inches of snow and ice. Meteorologist Chris Johnson explained, "These are called cryoseisms, or ‘ice quakes.’ They occur when temperatures drop rapidly, causing surface water to freeze and trap unfrozen water beneath the soil. As the deeper water begins to freeze, pressure builds because ice expands slightly as it forms." Monticello Police Department confirmed the reports, describing the sounds as "loud booms, cracks, or ground shaking."

For many, the experience was both bizarre and unnerving. Melody Gillan, a Kentucky resident, recounted to KSNT, "I was outside one day and kept hearing these ‘pops’ that sounded like firecrackers going off underground, right by where I was standing. My husband thought I was crazy. He said it was someone shooting a gun off in the distance." The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) also weighed in, noting that during cold snaps, booms can sometimes be attributed to the expansion and contraction of houses and other structures due to extreme temperatures. Still, in this case, the evidence pointed squarely at the ground itself.

In North Dakota, where harsh winters are a way of life, the idea of ice quakes has been met with skepticism. As reported by Townsquare Media, some locals dismissed the notion as "bologna," but experts insist it’s very real. USA Today describes ice quakes as seismic events caused by a sudden cracking action in frozen soil or bedrock saturated with water or ice. The resulting sounds can be as sharp as gunshots and are typically heard within about 300 yards. While most common in Alaska, Canada, and the Northeastern United States, ice quakes have also been documented in the Dakotas during periods of extreme cold and heavy snow.

FOX 4 Dallas, referencing Associated Press and FOX Weather, highlighted that frost quakes are often mistaken for earthquakes due to their suddenness and intensity. The difference? Frost quakes are not connected to fault lines or tectonic movement. Instead, they occur when water just under the surface freezes rapidly during a cold snap, causing cracks in the ground and sometimes even in rock. Interestingly, a thick layer of snow—just six inches, according to AccuWeather—can insulate the ground and prevent these quakes from happening. The recent winter storm, however, left many areas with exposed, saturated soil, setting the stage for these dramatic events.

Despite the commotion, frost quakes are rarely dangerous. As WAVE in Louisville explained, "Frost quakes are rare but harmless. They don’t cause structural damage and don’t signal a larger seismic event." The shaking typically lasts only a few seconds, and the booms are often strong enough to rattle windows or wake people from sleep. Still, the phenomenon can be unsettling, especially for those unfamiliar with it. WAVE also noted that as long as temperatures continue to drop rapidly and the ground remains moist, additional frost quakes are possible—particularly during overnight hours.

Research into frost quakes remains limited, but a 2023 study in Finland, reported by FOX Weather, identified two types of seismic events—frost quakes and frost tremors—both linked to rapid temperature drops and ice fracturing. The study suggested that frost quakes can emit enough pressure to potentially damage infrastructure like roads and buildings, although widespread damage has not been reported. Seismographs occasionally detect these events, but generally, ice quakes are too small and localized to be picked up by standard seismic networks.

In Middle Tennessee, frost quakes are rare but not unheard of, according to WSMV. The recent winter storm brought nearly two inches of rain to Nashville, saturating the ground just before temperatures plunged. The result? Reports of loud booms and brief ground shakes across the region. "Frost quakes happen during most winters in Middle Tennessee. That said, they’re relatively rare occurrences, so if you hear or sense one, consider yourself lucky," WSMV noted.

So how can you tell if you’ve experienced a frost quake? Experts say to look for a sudden boom with no thunder or lightning, shaking that lasts only a few seconds, and the absence of any official earthquake reports. If it happens during a sharp temperature drop, there’s a good chance you’ve just witnessed this rare winter phenomenon.

While the historic winter storm of January 2026 tragically claimed at least 29 lives—most notably a teenager in Texas in a sledding accident, according to Associated Press and FOX 4 Dallas—the frost quakes themselves have, so far, caused more curiosity than harm. As winter’s grip tightens and temperatures hover well below freezing, residents across the affected regions are being reminded that sometimes, the earth really does move under your feet—but not always for the reasons you’d expect.

For now, if you hear a mysterious boom in the night, it might just be the ground itself reacting to the icy embrace of winter.