Your complaint of unusual cracking noises during the winter is a common one from occupants of homes built pre 1980 s.
Roof spinner noise cold weather.
While these are easily explained and remedied some other offensive sounds are not.
Water in the pipes will freeze in the cold weather.
This is a common problem in very cold climates.
The loud bang may have been caused by underground water freezing but it could also have been caused by your roof framing being affected by the extreme cold temperature.
The sun shines on your roof all day warming the tiles and sub roof.
When water expands in the contracting pipes it causes pressure that could lead to bursting pipes.
Awakening in the middle of a cold night by repeated loud banging from your home s roof can be quite alarming giving rise to visions of falling tree limbs or intruders on the roof.
When the pipes burst you will hear a loud popping sound.
Popping cracking and snapping sounds coming from their roofs especially when the colder weather hits is a common problem.
This can put so much stress on the fasteners that you hear the entire assembly groan or sound like a gunshot.
Most noises in our homes are due to loud music being played rambunctious kids annoying appliances or excessive traffic noise outside.