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Meteorologist Warns Of 'Exploding Tree' Risk As Extreme Cold Hits Minnesota

  • On Thursday the National Weather Service issued an Extreme Cold Watch for much of Minnesota from Thursday night through Saturday morning, warning frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes and urging residents to follow updated forecasts and adjust plans.
  • Meteorologists say the polar vortex interacting with a warm upper atmosphere is driving Arctic air south; combined with moisture from California and the Gulf of Mexico, it fuels bitter cold, heavy snow, and life-threatening conditions.
  • West Texas A&M physicist Christopher Baird said `The crackling sound or gunshot pop you hear in the forest in the winter is the sound of trees freezing and bursting`, caused by sap freezing or wood contracting rapidly, which can cause trunks or limbs to crack with loud booms.
  • Residents are advised to avoid parking beneath large trees and limit outdoor time during extreme cold, as falling limbs can damage vehicles and power lines while travelers should prepare for delays.
  • While rare, historic observations and Lakota people note tree cracking during severe freezes, and scientific studies link rising extreme events to warming Arctic sea ice declines.
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12 Articles

Fox5 DCFox5 DC
+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Center

Do trees actually explode from 'extreme' cold?

Can trees really explode in the extreme cold? Rumors are spreading on social media that the frigid temperatures in the Upper Midwest this week could mean exploding trees. FOX 9's Cody Matz breaks down this viral claim.

·Washington, United States
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KTVBKTVB
+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Center

Yes, trees may explode during the coming winter storm. Here's why

Extreme temperature drops trigger the crackling or gunshot pops heard in the forest in the midst of winter, experts said.

·Boise, United States
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abc10 Sacramento broke the news in Sacramento, United States on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
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