trees exploding from cold
Definition
A meteorological and botanical phenomenon where tree trunks crack loudly during extreme cold snaps, caused by the expansion of freezing sap and moisture within the wood, mimicking the sound of an explosion.
Reports of 'exploding trees' surge during polar vortex events or rapid temperature drops below -20°F (-29°C), as ice formation exerts pressure on the bark, leading to splits that produce rifle-shot-like bangs.
Examples
During last night's deep freeze, we heard what sounded like artillery fire—turns out it was just trees exploding from cold in the neighborhood.
Forget Netflix; nothing beats the thrill of trees exploding from cold turning your quiet suburb into a impromptu action movie set.
The weatherman warned about wind chills, but skipped the part where trees exploding from cold would wake everyone at 3 AM like nature's alarm clock.
In Canada, they've upgraded winter survival kits to include earplugs for trees exploding from cold—priorities, eh?