We are just a few weeks into 2026, and amidst the current events, now there is talk about trees exploding? Seriously?
Not exactly.
A significant cold wave is sweeping through Canada and the northern regions of the United States, bringing temperatures plunging below –20 degrees Celsius — dropping to as low as –40 degrees Celsius with wind chill in certain areas — across a large part of Canada and the U.S. in the upcoming days.
While individuals in these regions prepare for the freezing conditions, triggered by a disturbance in the polar vortex pushing frigid Arctic air as far south as the U.S. Deep South, a viral social media post suggested that temperatures could be cold enough in up to seven states, ranging from North and South Dakota to Michigan, to cause trees to burst.
The severe cold weather poses a genuine risk to the population and will contribute to a widespread and potentially hazardous storm that will span nearly 30 states from Friday to Monday — although not necessarily resulting in trees spontaneously exploding.
“You might have encountered a claim circulating about the potential for trees in Minnesota to explode due to the plummeting temperatures,” stated Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources in a Facebook post. “Fortunately, there is no need to avoid the woods to evade this danger.”
However, this does not completely invalidate the assertion. Here is a brief overview of the possibility of “exploding trees” in this harsh weather — and other ways extreme temperature shifts can lead to sudden impacts.
How is this phenomenon conceivable?
When temperatures sharply and significantly decline, they can trigger what are termed as frost cracks, as explained by Simon Peacock, an ISA-certified arborist with Green Drop Tree Care in Winnipeg.
“It’s an unusual occurrence, more prevalent in trees with thin barks,” he remarked, noting that it is quite common in the Prairies.
These vertical fissures can at times extend the entire length of the tree trunk and can produce a loud noise when they occur — resembling, as some describe it, an explosion.
The abrupt cold causes the water and sap inside the tree to freeze rapidly, according to Bill McNee, a forest health specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
