Providence, Rhode Island – Residents across Rhode Island, from Providence to Warwick, may soon hear sudden, thunder-like booms during the overnight hours as temperatures plunge. While the noises can be alarming, experts say they are not explosions or earthquakes. Instead, they are caused by a rare winter phenomenon known as frost quakes.
What Is Happening Across Rhode Island
According to the Rhode Island Geological Survey and the National Weather Service in Boston, current weather conditions are creating a prime setup for frost quakes, also called cryoseisms. These events occur when the ground freezes rapidly, causing underground cracking that releases a loud, explosive sound.
Recent rainfall across the state has saturated the soil. As a strong cold front moves in, temperatures are expected to drop sharply from the 30s during the day into the teens overnight, setting the stage for sudden ground freezing.
What Exactly Are Frost Quakes
Frost quakes form when water trapped in the soil freezes too quickly. As water turns into ice, it expands, placing extreme pressure on surrounding soil and rock. When that pressure becomes too great, the frozen ground fractures abruptly.
The result is a sharp boom, crack, or rumble that can sound similar to distant thunder, blasting, or even a small earthquake. Unlike true earthquakes, frost quakes are shallow and localized, occurring just below the surface.
Why This Week Is High Risk
Meteorologists point to several factors aligning across Rhode Island:
- Recent rain, leaving soil saturated
- Little to no snow cover, which normally insulates the ground
- Rapid temperature drops overnight, especially after sunset
Without a snow layer to slow freezing, cold air penetrates the ground much faster. This rapid freeze is the most critical trigger for frost quakes.
When Residents Are Most Likely to Hear Them
Frost quakes most commonly occur between midnight and early morning, when temperatures reach their lowest point. Many reports come from people awakened by a sudden bang or vibration during otherwise calm, quiet nights…