Frost cracks, which can make trees sound as if they are exploding, are possible in 7 states this weekend.
A meteorologist warned of the risk of “exploding trees“ later this week as extreme cold hits the northern U.S. A huge portion of the country is under cold-related weather alerts, with advisories stretching as far south as the Gulf Coast, and the more severe extreme cold warnings issued in 10 states further north.
The dangerously cold Arctic air hit the Northern Plains states on Wednesday and will persist for several days. It comes as a winter storm hits states further south in a devastating track from Texas to the Northeast. Local meteorologists warned that when coupled with wind chill, temperatures would feel as cold as minus 54 degrees. The temperatures are life-threatening to humans and can also cause trees to “explode,“ according to a meteorologist who warned of the phenomenon on X on Tuesday night. “EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero!“ meteorological account Max Velocity posted on X. Included in the post was a map showing which states were at the highest risk of “exploding trees.“ North Dakota, South Dakota, a small portion of northern Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and part of Michigan were included in the risk area. Although the term “exploding trees“ brings to mind entire trees suddenly bursting apart, what actually happens is more scientific. “What research tells us is that as air temperature drops below freezing, wood tissue often tends to shrink,“ United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Research Ecologist Chris Oishi told Newsweek. “This is because water inside the cells moves into space between the cells and freezes there. This prevents the freeze-expansion that occurs within a contained volume like pipes in your home. “Trees can also buffer against cracking by segmenting where the water is moved to, in the event that one segment freezes, the expansion may be counterbalanced by a section that does not freeze. Additionally, because the water in plant tissue is a solution containing other molecules, it can be cooled to temperatures below zero .” During the winter, sunlight will warm the tree's bark, which expands the cells of the wood. When temperatures suddenly plunge, such as overnight or during extensive cold spells, the bark shrinks again. However, the inner wood takes longer to cool, a report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said. “If the temperature drop is sudden, this causes unequal contraction between the bark and inner wood tissues, causing a frost crack,“ the report said. “This sudden split can even cause a loud bang!“ A file photo shows trees in winter. Temperatures in the northern U.S. will be cold enough this weekend to cause frost cracks, which can sound like the tree is exploding. The noise can be startling and, at times, branches can fall off the tree from the crack's force, but USA Today reported that frost cracks rarely cause the trees to “explode“ completely. However, the phenomenon is damaging for trees. “These longitudinal openings can run the entire length of the trunk, often extend deep into the wood, and permanently damage a tree,“ the Wisconsin DNR reported. “In wintertime, the tree may even look like it’s splitting in half! Then warmer weather comes, and the crack seems to close, repeating this process annually. Over time, frost cracks may even develop a raised area where callus tissue develops in an attempt to close over the wound, only to reopen again next winter.“ Some trees are more vulnerable to frost cracks, such as trees with thinner bark, like maples, lindens and sycamores. How Long Will Cold Temperatures Last? The most significant low temperatures will be felt in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Extreme cold warnings are set to expire at noon on Friday for many areas, but an extreme cold watch remains in effect through the weekend. “The life-threatening wind chills will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. Hypothermia could develop shortly thereafter,“ the National Weather Service office in Bismarck, North Dakota, said in the extreme cold warning. “This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin.“ Looking further ahead, below-average temperatures are expected to persist through the next two weeks, according to a website for the NWS Climate Prediction Center. The states at highest risk of below-average temperatures are in the Southeast and along the Eastern Seaboard. Update 1/22/2026, 12:05 p.m. Eastern time: This article was updated to include comment from the U.S. Forest Service.
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