Many Mid-Missouri residents ranging from Jefferson City and Columbia, all the way east towards St. Louis have reported hearing loud bangs and crash sounds over the past 24 hours. These loud sounds are due to something referred to as ice quakes or frost quakes which occur during abrupt cooldowns.
Water located within the deeper layers of the ground, freezes at quicker rates than usual due to such a substantial drop-off in temperatures as arctic air has filtered across the Midwest. This freezes cause the water to expand as it becomes ice.
This expansion then forces outward causing cracks in the frozen ground due to the pressure. These sound waves travel through the different layers of the ground before bring a loud bang noise to those on the surface.
These ice quakes/ frost quakes are harmless and are far too weak to register on the Richter Scale. Thankfully, this phenomenon doesn’t occur very often so many people will not have to worry about this occurring into the second half of the week as temperatures look to rise.
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Residents across Central Missouri reported hearing loud booms and feeling vibrations as a series of ice quakes shook the region early this morning. The phenomenon, also known as cryoseisms, occurs when water seeps into the ground and freezes, causing the soil to expand and create pressure that eventually releases in the form of a sudden tremor.
Many residents took to social media to share their experiences, with some describing the sound as similar to a sonic boom or an explosion. Others reported feeling their homes shake and seeing objects rattle on shelves.
While ice quakes are relatively rare in this area, they can occur during periods of extreme cold weather when the ground is saturated with water. Experts advise residents to stay calm and not to panic if they experience an ice quake, as they are typically harmless and do not cause any significant damage.
Have you ever experienced an ice quake? Share your stories in the comments below.
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