Can trees ‘explode’ during extreme cold weather?

Extreme cold weather can cause trees to snap and branches to break, but a viral social media post that says trees “explode” in cold weather is misleading. 

During periods of extreme cold, sap inside a tree can freeze, which leads to expansion. That pressure can cause tree trunks to break and branches to snap, resulting in a loud noise that can sound like an explosion.

It’s called frost cracking, and it’s more prevalent on the south or southwest side of vulnerable trees. Maple, birch, poplar and ash are the most at risk.

Another winter weather phenomenon is a “frost quake,” or cryoseism. That’s when soil or rock fractures due to rapid freezing of water in saturated ground. These are sometimes mistaken for true earthquakes and can cause loud booms or seismic vibrations.

Viral social media posts by Meteorologist Max Velocity warned of an “exploding tree risk” due to extreme cold.