Meteorologists are warning that an incoming subzero cold snap comes with an increased risk of "exploding trees." Arborists say it's a real thing that

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.

Water expands as it freezes, which can create stress between the colder, contracting outer bark and the relatively warmer inner wood. That stress can cause the bark or trunk to split suddenly, sometimes making a loud bang or crack that people describe as an explosion.