Frost quakes are a cold weather phenomenon that make loud booming or popping sounds and unleash small earthquake-like tremors. They can be unsettling but don’t pose any real danger.

During extreme cold events, you may hear a loud boom and feel that you experienced an earthquake. However, this event was more likely a cryoseism, also known an ice quake or a frost quake.

Frost quakes typically occur under a certain set of winter conditions, Ford said — after a wet, rainy period and when there’s little snow, which has an insulating effect, on the ground.

(CNN) — A cold weather phenomenon known as frost quakes, which make loud booming or popping sounds and unleash small earthquake-like tremors, was felt around Chicago during this week’s bout of ...

(CNN) — A cold weather phenomenon known as frost quakes, which make loud booming or popping sounds and unleash small earthquake-like tremors, was felt around Chicago during this week’s bout of ...

Sometimes groundwater expands to the point of causing the soil or rock to crack, causing the "quake" and resulting sound effect.

Sometimes groundwater expands to the point of causing the soil or rock to crack, causing the "quake" and resulting sound effect.

Sometimes groundwater expands to the point of causing the soil or rock to crack, causing the "quake" and resulting sound effect.

Sometimes groundwater expands to the point of causing the soil or rock to crack, causing the "quake" and resulting sound effect.