Jim;
I've seen this happen more then once and usually around this time of year when the temperature is in the 20-50 degree range. Street oil filters have a tighter mesh than racing filters and if the engine temp doesn't get the oil hot enough to evaporate moisture in the oil from a stuck open thermostat or just too much short trip stop start driving, the moisture will eventually plug the filter media. The oil pump pressure is trying to get oil past the plugged filtering element which distorts inside the filter shell. This can also do bearing damage and will show lower oil pressures if you have a gauge and not just a low pressure oil light. This is why lots of very short trip driving can be really bad on maintaining oil quality. Also see the attached link for additional information with illustrations about this problem.
http://knowhow.napaonline.com/what-c...lter-collapse/