We're just weeks into 2026, and with all that's unfolding, now we have to contend with trees bursting? Seriously?

Not exactly.

A significant portion of Canada and the northern U.S. is experiencing extreme cold, with temperatures sinking below –20 C — even dropping below –40 C with wind chill in certain areas — across many regions in the upcoming days.

As residents prepare for the freezing weather, spurred by a polar vortex disruption sending Arctic air deep into the South, a viral social media claim suggested it could be cold enough in up to seven states, from North and South Dakota to Michigan, resulting in trees bursting apart.

The severe chill will definitely pose risks for individuals and contribute to a large and potentially hazardous storm expected to impact nearly 30 states between Friday and Monday — albeit not necessarily from trees unexpectedly exploding.

"You may have noticed a post going around about the possibility of trees in Minnesota bursting due to dropping temperatures," Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources stated in a Facebook update. "Fortunately, there's no need to avoid the woods to circumvent this danger."

However, this does not mean the assertion is completely unfounded. Here's a concise overview regarding whether there is a risk of "bursting trees" during this severe cold — and other ways drastic temperature changes can lead to explosive sounds.

When temperatures decline sharply and unexpectedly, it can result in what are referred to as frost cracks, according to Simon Peacock, an ISA-certified arborist with Green Drop Tree Care in Winnipeg.

"It's a peculiar phenomenon, more typical in trees with thin bark," he said, noting that it frequently occurs in the Prairies.

These vertical fissures can occasionally stretch the full length of the trunk, and the noise produced can be rather loud — sounding, as some might describe, akin to an explosion.

The rapid drop in temperature causes water and sap inside the tree to quickly freeze, as explained by Bill McNee, a forest health expert with Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources.

"When that happens, akin to ice cubes in your freezer, it expands very quickly," McNee informed the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The resultant "physical pressure," he added, can lead to a tree splitting and branches breaking off.

Peacock mentioned that the damage doesn’t harm the tree and will heal when temperatures rise during the summer season — although they might open again in winter.

This cycle of cracking and healing can lead to a permanent "frost rib" or scar on the trunk.

If a fracture is substantive enough, Peacock cautioned, there's a possibility for bacteria that can lead to wood decay to infiltrate a tree, necessitating the consultation of a certified arborist to address it.

Hardwood trees are more susceptible to frost cracks due to their deciduous nature, or if they are excessively pruned, while evergreen trees retain their leaves throughout the year.

Species that are commonly affected include elm, poplar, certain varieties of maple, oak, ash, and aspen trees, alongside fruit trees like apple, peach, and cherry.

Peacock indicated that it is often non-native tree species, such as silver maples or some linden varieties, that are particularly vulnerable to cracking when frigid temperatures arrive quickly, while native species are better adapted to withstand freezing conditions.

He remarked that it is "extremely uncommon" to observe a tree suffering "significant" damage, such as depicted in various social media posts, and most individuals likely won't even become aware of a crack until well after it has sealed — unless they perceive an unexpected boom in their yard.

It's not solely trees that can create striking sounds when temperatures drop significantly.

Have you heard of "thundersnow" or "frost quakes"? Both phenomena can occur during winter.

Frost quakes, also known as cryoseism, happen when there’s ample moisture in the soil, either from rain or melting snow, that freezes rapidly.

The ice below ground expands and exerts pressure on the soil and bedrock, ultimately resulting in fissures.

In addition to being loud, frost quakes can produce a noticeable jolt that can shake buildings similar to an earthquake, as experienced in Ottawa in 2022 following a rapid temperature change.

Thundersnow, which took place during a storm in March 2023 across southern Ontario, is a rare occurrence that can manifest when moist air in a winter storm—accompanied by increased snowfall—is warmer at the surface but clashes with cooler air higher in the atmosphere.

This creates instability, akin to how thunderstorms develop in summer.

However, during a winter storm, the falling snow can magnify the sound of thunder dramatically.