Less than a month into 2026, a new concern arises amidst the ongoing events: exploding trees. Is this really happening?
Not entirely.
A severe cold snap is gripping much of Canada and the northern United States, with temperatures dropping below –20 C and plunging even further, reaching below –40 C with wind chill in certain areas across both countries in the upcoming days.
As residents in these regions prepare for the icy conditions caused by a disturbance in the polar vortex pushing frigid Arctic air southward into the U.S. Deep South, a viral social media post suggested that temperatures could dip low enough in up to seven states, from North and South Dakota to Michigan, to potentially lead to trees exploding.
The extreme cold weather poses a significant risk to the populace and is expected to contribute to a widespread and potentially hazardous storm spanning nearly 30 states from Friday through Monday. However, this does not imply trees will spontaneously burst apart due to the cold.
Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources addressed the circulating claim about trees in Minnesota exploding due to the severe cold in a Facebook post, reassuring the public that there is no need to avoid forests to evade this purported danger.
Nevertheless, the notion of exploding trees is not entirely baseless. Here is a brief explanation of the potential risk of “exploding trees” in such bitterly cold conditions and other ways extreme temperature variations can lead to explosive phenomena.
How does this phenomenon occur?
When temperatures dramatically and swiftly plummet, they can trigger frost cracks, as explained by Simon Peacock, an ISA-certified arborist at Green Drop Tree Care in Winnipeg.
Peacock highlighted this as a peculiar occurrence more prevalent in trees with thin bark, particularly common in the Prairies.
These vertical fissures can extend along the trunk’s length and can produce a loud noise, resembling an explosion, upon occurrence.
The sudden cold causes the water and sap within the tree to freeze rapidly, leading to the swift expansion of ice, according to Bill McNee, a forest health specialist at Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources.
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