Country Herald is Local News, Independent Pulse. Covering breaking local news, sports, lifestyle and events.
Buffalo, NY – Residents across Buffalo and Albany could soon be hearing mysterious booms echoing through the night as New York’s next cold wave hits. Experts say those startling noises are likely frost quakes — sudden cracking events in the frozen ground triggered by plunging temperatures.
According to the New York State Geological Survey, frost quakes, or cryoseisms, happen when rain or melted snow seeps into the ground, then freezes too quickly. As that water expands into ice, it builds up stress until the frozen soil or rock splits apart — releasing energy in a sharp pop or rumble. The sound can resemble an explosion or thunder, sometimes strong enough to rattle windows or wake residents…