Weather Tidbits: Frost Quakes

We’ll be discussing frost quakes in this addition of Weather Tidbits. A frost quake can feel like or be mistaken for an actual earthquake, but the way they occur are both different. An earthquake results from sudden movements along a fault or fracture within the Earth’s crust. A frost quake, however, relies on temperatures unlike an earthquake. Frost quakes occur when there is a rapid drop in temperatures. This causes water underground to freeze. The new ice then expands, which puts extra pressure on the surrounding soil and bedrock. The pressure between these features continues to build until the soil and rock cracks. This cracking can result in a loud boom or shaking. So, while both frost quakes and earthquakes may feel the same, how they materialize is different.