Tree sap is mostly water with sugars and minerals, and like many liquids, it expands when it freezes. Gradual freezes usually don’t harm trees — even if it gradually cools to subzero — but plunging temperature swings cause uneven freezing and internal pressure. This stress can crack the bark and wood, producing what sounds like a loud pop.

Every time arctic air drops south, and temperatures plummet well below zero, social media lights up with a scary (and slightly cinematic) rumor called "exploding trees."

It turns out that trees can actually explode when temperatures drop.

With winter weather heading into North Texas on Friday, it's too late to get your trees treated. We spoke with a master arborist about the one thing you can do.

Ice accumulation on trees have caused branches to fall on buildings, cars and potentially power lines in Ruidoso.

The city commission has sought to revamp Las Olas Boulevard for years, finally approving a vision for the popular downtown area in 2021 that would remove the four blocks of black olive trees, which were planted into the medians decades ago, the Sun Sentinel reported.

More than £11,600 is donated to a joint appeal to replace the trees lost.

We're not even one month into 2026, and with everything that's happening, now we have to deal with exploding trees? No, not entirely. But a sudden deep freeze is going to send temperatures plummeting in much of Canada and the U.