The majority of the United States is bracing itself for a potentially historic polar vortex winter storm this weekend.

While many trees are dormant these months — and will remain so until their leaves and flowers burst through in the springtime — they sure can create a cacophony in the still of winter.

"It’s more of a tree crack, but they will do that," said John Ball, a professor of agronomy, horticulture and plant science at South Dakota State University in Brookings, and an expert in tree physiol...