Nature, I think your tree is broken.
A viral video doing the rounds shows a curious phenomenon that was spotted on a tree encapsulated in ice as it started to thaw in Illinois. Over the course of three days, the temperature ranged from -6°C (20°F) to icy rain to nearly 10°C (50°F), creating this weird ice-thaw situation. Strangely, a coat of ice has slightly peeled away from the trunk and branches, allowing a steady stream of water to trickle down the bark under the icy top layer as it melts. The result is a tree that looks like belongs outside a haunted house to confuse passing stoners. It also features an especially satisfying crackling sound, like adding cool milk to a bowl of Rice Krispies.
The video was shot on February 13, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois, just as the weather was starting to go from “insanely cold” to “still fairly damn cold.“