When temperatures plunge and the air goes painfully still, people in northern forests sometimes hear a sharp crack that sounds like a gunshot. That eerie noise has fueled a viral claim that trees ...

These forecasts have prompted warnings about protecting your water pipes, dressing for the weather, and, for some reason, the possibility of “exploding” trees. Earlier this week, posts shared to ...

Can trees explode in frigid weather? As Minnesota is home to thousands of firs and oaks, the concept of an exploding tree is troubling. What does it mean? A viral social media post shared thousands of ...

Social media posts warning of "exploding trees" in subzero temperatures are mischaracterizing a phenomenon known as frost cracks. Frost cracks form when water inside trees freezes and expands. As a ...

Trees don't explode in cold temperatures, but they can develop a frost crack, or vertical fissure in the tree trunk.