With a sharp drop in our temperatures this weekend across New York, you might hear some strange noises in your backyard.
An unusual weather phenomenon is possible this weekend, “Frost Quakes.”
WHAT ARE FROST QUAKES?
A frostquake is a movement of the underground land due to the expansion of frozen water in the soil. The water in the ground expands when it freezes, causing the ground to shake and move like an earthquake. When temperatures drop quickly, like they will this weekend, the water in the ground will freeze and expand rapidly, causing the Frost Quake.
ARE FROST QUAKES DANGEROUS?
For the most part, the ground will not move enough to create issues with buildings or roads. Most of the damage is done underneath the top layer of dirt. The biggest way you might know a Frost Quake is happening, you will hear cracking. In rare cases, the top layer of the ground cracks open, and that could cause damage.
The best chance for Frost Quakes to happen is when the air is coldest. This is usually between 11 pm and 3 am. Also, the less snow on the ground, the better the chance of frost quakes happening, since the snow acts as a good insulator, which can help keep the ground warm enough to prevent the water in the soil from freezing…