As a potentially historic winter storm prepares to slam the Midwest and Northern Plains, meteorologists are warning that conditions could become so brutal that trees could begin exploding. With temperatures predicted to fall to -20ยบ F on Friday and Saturday, there’s a danger of the insides of trees freezing. The phenomenon known as “frost cracking” can literally cause trees to burst from the inside out as sap and water freeze and expand, building pressure against the bark. While it’s not a fiery explosion that could endanger nearby residents, meteorologists want people to know the possibility of explosions happening so they don’t confuse the sound with those of gunshots. The states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin are the states likely to see this take place.
