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.

Trees don’t actually explode in the cold, but sometimes, they can sound like they are. The phenomenon, formally called frost cracks, can happen when there is a sudden drop in temperature.

Will it get so cold that the trees in your yard explode and fall over? Here's the weather science behind all the "exploding tree" talk.

“EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero!” Max Velocity, a popular meteorology account, cautioned his over 262,000 Facebook followers on January 20.