Midwesterners Warned About 'Exploding Trees' as Extreme Cold Watch Hits U.S.

A viral social media post warned Midwesterners about the dangers of "exploding trees" as extreme cold weather hits the region. But is it true? Do trees really explode during very cold temperatures?

It turns out that, yes, exploding trees is a real phenomenon. "While trees have evolved amazing strategies for withstanding the winter cold, sometimes it gets so cold that trees can explode. Yes, you read that right," the National Forest Foundation confirmed. Some people who have experienced the phenomenon describe it as more like a snapping or cracking than an outright explosion.

What Causes 'Exploding Trees' During Extreme Cold?

What causes trees to explode during cold temperatures? According to the National Forest Foundation, "during spells of extreme cold or when trees haven’t had time to acclimate, the life-sustaining sap inside a tree can begin to freeze."

The sap eventually causes the explosion. "Sap contains water so it expands when frozen, putting pressure on the bark, which can break and create an explosion. There are numerous historic and current observations of trees exploding due to extreme cold," the foundation explained.

Which trees are most likely to explode?

According to KKRC, trees "most vulnerable include those with higher moisture content like oak, maple, and fruit trees. The explosive cracks often happen late at night or early morning when temperatures reach their lowest point."

The National Weather Service Is Warning the Northern Plains & Great Lakes Region About 'Frigid Temperatures'

It's supposed to be very cold, according to the National Weather Service.

"Multiple clipper systems will bring cold temperatures and enhance lake-effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes," NWS wrote on January 21. "An arctic blast will bring frigid temperatures accompanied with gusty winds that may lead to dangerous wind chills beginning in the Northern Plains Thursday before expanding to the South and East."

How cold is it expected to get? "Frigid temperatures will expand across the eastern 2/3 of the country behind an Arctic cold front. Frigid sub-zero and single-digit temperatures will expand from the Northern Plains Thursday into the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Northeast by Sunday," NWS wrote on January 21.

"This Arctic blast will be accompanied by gusty winds, leading to dangerous wind chills. The coldest wind chills may fall below -50 across the Northern Plains. Extreme cold warnings, extreme cold watches, and cold weather advisories are in effect for parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest beginning tonight."

You Might Hear Other Booming Sounds During Cold Weather Snaps

Extreme cold weather causes other booming sounds. There is a phenomenon called a "cryoseismic boom," and sometimes it is known as "frost cracking." Meteorologists also warn people about "frost quakes."

According to the Iowa Public Library, the sonic boom sound is also "called a cold boom."

"Technically, it is known as a cryoseismic boom. A phenomenon reserved for only the coldest of temperatures and rare for the lower latitudes of the continental United States," the library noted. "The boom sound is created by a cryoseism, which is a mini explosion within the ground caused by the rapid expansion of frozen water."

The library noted that "cryoseisms may occur 3 to 4 hours after significant changes in temperature."

What are frost quakes? According to the Farmers Almanac, they are common in glaciers but can also occur "on solid land, particularly when soil saturated by rain or melted snow drops in temperature from above freezing to subzero over a short period of time. As the moisture in the soil freezes, it expands."

That "rapid expansion" causes an "explosive pop," the Farmers Almanac explained.

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