Meteorologists warn of ‘exploding trees’ as brutal cold snap expected to usher in subzero temps
Meteorologists are warning that an intense blast of Arctic air could bring an unusual and startling phenomenon to parts of the country: exploding trees.
A surge of bitterly cold air moving south from Canada is expected to drive temperatures well below zero across the Midwest and Northern Plains late Friday into Saturday. Forecasts show readings dropping to around 20 degrees below zero in some areas, conditions cold enough to cause trees to crack or even burst.
Social media meteorologist Max Velocity cautioned that the rapid temperature plunge could trigger the phenomenon. In a post on X Tuesday night, he warned that trees may “explode” as extreme cold sets in across the region.
Another weather commentator, Rebecca Ann, explained that while rare, this can happen to both healthy and weakened trees when temperatures fall suddenly. Evergreens are generally adapted to winter weather, but experts say even they can be vulnerable if the cold arrives too quickly for the tree to adjust.
According to the National Forest Foundation, sap inside a tree can begin to freeze during extreme cold spells. Because sap contains water, it expands as it freezes, placing pressure on the bark. That pressure can cause the bark to split violently.
“There are many historical and modern observations of trees bursting due to extreme cold,” the foundation notes.
Christopher Baird, an associate professor of physics at West Texas A&M University, compares the process to frozen pipes bursting in a home. He says the sound can be startling.
“The sharp cracking or gunshot-like noise people hear in winter forests is often a tree freezing and bursting,” Baird explained on the university’s website.
He added that trees contain hundreds or even thousands of tiny fluid channels. If one ruptures, the tree can usually survive because other channels continue to function, and each channel is small enough to limit overall damage.
The same Arctic blast is expected to push temperatures below zero or into the single digits across much of the eastern United States. Forecasters are urging residents to take the cold seriously.
“It’s dangerously cold,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines warned, advising people to dress in layers and limit time outdoors. “This Arctic air is moving in, and conditions will worsen before they improve.”
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