DETROIT – Parts of Michigan are at risk for “exploding trees” because of the extremely cold weather.
Highs in Metro Detroit on Friday and Saturday are in the single digits, with wind chills Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings expected to be at least 10 below zero, if not colder.
But in other parts of the state, temperatures could be low enough for a risk of “exploding trees,” which is when trees split apart in extreme cold. That causes a sound similar to a gunshot and a risk of falling branches.
The “exploding tree” risk for Friday and Saturday in Michigan includes most of the Upper Peninsula and the northwestern-most part of the Lower Peninsula. You can see a map in the X post below.
EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero! pic.twitter.com/nqnoqsbHNU
— Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) January 21, 2026