Extreme Cold Triggers Wave of Ice Quakes Across US

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The extreme cold sweeping across the United States has triggered a rare phenomenon known as ice quakes or cryoseisms, causing loud booms and ground fractures in several states. This occurs when the frozen ground suddenly contracts, and has been reported especially in central and eastern states affected by the intense cold wave.

Why it matters

Ice quakes can be alarming to communities, as the loud noises they produce are often mistaken for gunshots or other threats. While generally harmless, the events highlight the broader risks that can accompany extreme cold weather, which has already claimed dozens of lives across the US this winter.

The details

Cryoseisms happen when the ground, saturated with water, undergoes sudden freezing as temperatures plummet. As the water expands when turning to ice, it generates cracks and fractures in the frozen soil, producing the loud booming sounds. The phenomenon has been reported in states like Kentucky and Tennessee, which have experienced temperatures 15-20 degrees below average amid the polar vortex event.

• The cold wave and ice quake activity began over the past weekend.
• Temperatures have hovered around -5°C in inland areas, with wind chills below -20°C in some states.
• A similar polar vortex event last occurred in January 2024, resulting in record lows and at least 40 deaths.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The National Weather Service has issued reassurance messages to the public about the ice quake phenomenon, noting that the events are generally harmless despite the alarming sounds.