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As a sprawling winter storm tightens its grip on the United States, nearly 230 million Americans now find themselves in its projected path. Snow, ice, and bitter Arctic air are sweeping across two-thirds of the country, triggering emergency declarations and widespread travel warnings. Amid the serious forecasts, a strange claim has taken over social media: that trees could literally explode in the extreme cold.
The phrase has fueled anxiety as temperatures plunge well below zero in parts of the Midwest and Northern Plains. Videos and posts warn of loud bangs echoing through frozen neighborhoods, adding an eerie twist to an already dangerous storm system known as Winter Storm Fern.
But as meteorologists and forest experts step in, they say the viral claim needs context. What’s happening in frozen forests is real, but it’s not quite what the internet makes it sound like.
What’s Actually Happening to Trees in Extreme Cold
Experts say the phenomenon being described as “exploding trees” is more accurately called frost cracking. It occurs when moisture inside a tree freezes rapidly, expands, and causes the bark to split under pressure. The crack can be sudden and loud, startling anyone nearby.
Pete Petoniak, director of meteorology at FOX affiliate WLUK in Wisconsin, says people often describe the sound as a gunshot or a car backfiring. That noise, combined with extreme cold, fuels the dramatic language spreading online.
Frost cracking tends to affect trees with thinner bark, including maple, birch, and linden. It is also more likely in regions unaccustomed to prolonged sub-zero temperatures, where trees have had less time to acclimate to severe cold.
Why Experts Say ‘Explosion’ Is the Wrong Word
Despite the noise and visual damage, many experts push back strongly on the idea that trees truly explode. Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak of WCCO in Minneapolis labeled the phrasing clickbait, emphasizing that catastrophic ruptures are extremely rare.
Sudden temperature swings matter more than steady cold. A rapid plunge following mild weather increases internal stress, but drops like negative three to negative twenty degrees are not unusual in northern climates. Most trees are built to withstand those conditions.
Forest health specialists acknowledge that extreme pressure release can occasionally cause dramatic splitting. But they stress these events are uncommon and far less dangerous than ice accumulation, which weighs down branches and power lines across storm-hit regions.
The Real Danger as the Storm Advances
While exploding trees may grab attention, the real threat facing 230 million Americans comes from heavy snow, freezing rain, and prolonged power outages. Forecasters warn that ice accumulations could be significant enough to bring down trees, block roads, and leave communities without heat for days.
Winter Storm Warnings stretch from the Southern Plains to the Northeast, with snowfall totals exceeding a foot in some areas. Several states have declared emergencies as officials urge residents to finish preparations and avoid unnecessary travel.
In the end, the storm’s impact doesn’t need exaggeration. The danger is already historic in scale. As temperatures plunge and ice spreads, preparation matters more than viral myths echoing through frozen woods.