It seems that many people in Ontario are experiencing "frost quakes," though they're generally rare.
Although a frost quake may sound as realistic as a sharknado, apparently they're a real — albeit rare — phenomenon.
Frost quakes, or cryoseisms, occur when there is a rapid drop in temperature. Water that is in the ground freezes. Because it has nowhere else to go, it cracks the soil or rock causing a loud noise and the shaking of the ground.These types of cryoseisms are rare and poorly understood. There are two types of cryoseisms: a frost quake and an ice quake. An ice quake occurs over bodies of water such as lakes and rivers.
Although the United State Geological Survey and the American Meteor Society had no reports of seismic events, people across Ontario have been reporting frost quakes since Christmas Eve.
Catherine Woodgold, a seismologist with Earthquakes Canada, said that with the sudden drop in temperature, frost quakes were a "very likely explanation" for what people have been experiencing.
It could be an effect with the house itself. Like the house itself could be shifting to the response in the temperature. It could be an effect with the house itself. Like the house itself could be shifting to the response in the temperature.
Whether the noises are actual frost quakes or just people's houses creaking because of the cold temperatures, people all over Greater Toronto are saying they're experiencing frost quakes.
And nobody could sleep.
And people were generally just freaked out.
Someone actually thought they were being murdered.
But thankfully, frost quakes aren't deadly.
Phew.