Are Trees Really "Exploding" in the St. Croix Valley?
Matt from NWI Breaks it Down
If you've been scrolling through Facebook lately, you've probably seen the viral posts about "exploding trees" across the Midwest. With temperatures in the St. Croix Valley hitting -20ºF, the rumors are flying faster than the frost.
But are your trees actually going to blow up tomorrow? Matt from NWI Tree Service & Landscaping is here to cut through the hype and explain the science of what's really happening in our backyards.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Matt Explains the Science vs. the “Hype”
In this video, Matt explains how “exploding trees” is a popular Midwest phenomenon often discussed on social media. He breaks down the cellular-level tension that occurs when sap freezes rapidly, comparing the process to frozen pipes bursting in a home. While a “gunshot” sound is common when the wood finally cracks, Matt provides a realistic perspective on the likelihood of this happening to your specific landscape.
Contact us for a free evaluation of your trees.
What is an “Exploding Tree”?
According to Matt, what people are seeing on social media is a severe case of frost crack. It’s not a Hollywood explosion, but it is a violent release of tension. When sap freezes during rapid temperature drops, the wood bursts at a cellular level.
Think of it like the pipes in your house: when the water inside freezes and has nowhere to go, the pressure becomes too much for the container to handle. In a tree, that pressure build-up eventually snaps the wood fibers, creating a loud “bang” that sounds just like a gunshot.
The Science of the Snap: Why Now?
Frost cracks typically happen on clear, calm nights following a sunny day. Here is the mechanical breakdown:
Sunscald: During the day, the winter sun hits the south and southwest sides of the tree, warming the bark and "waking up" the cells.
The Flash Freeze: When the sun sets and the Arctic air (like our current -20ºF blast) hits the trunk, the outer bark cools and shrinks much faster than the inner wood.
The Failure Point: The internal pressure of the expanding frozen sap meets the external pressure of the shrinking bark. The tree "gives," resulting in a vertical split that can run several feet up the trunk.
Which Trees in Stillwater, Hudson, and the St. Croix Valley are Most at Risk?
Matt and the NWI team see this most often in thin-barked species common in our local river valley:
Young, newly planted trees are significantly more vulnerable than mature oaks or evergreens because their bark hasn’t yet developed the thick, insulating layers needed to withstand rapid thermal expansion.
What Should You Do if Your Tree Already Cracked?
Are your trees going to explode tomorrow? “Probably not,” says Matt. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared.
Don’t Panic: If you hear the “gunshot,” it’s the tree releasing tension.
Visual Audit: Once it warms up, walk your property in Stillwater, Hudson, or any of our service areas. Look for new vertical cracks.
No “Quick Fixes”: Don’t try to seal or paint the crack. The tree needs to callus over naturally.
Get a Local Winter Risk Assessment
The St. Croix Valley’s unique river microclimate can make our winters harsher on landscaping than in the Twin Cities metro. Our certified arborists are currently performing Winter Structural Audits in Stillwater, Hudson, Bayport, Afton, and the entire St. Croix Valley to identify trees at risk of failure.
