[babble-on]

I think the point is that these trees have not had the time to prepare for this, because the temperatures are in the 50s today but low single digits forecast for 36 hours from now.

[Varda]

She said, “ across the Midwest and Northern Plains”. Fact is below zero temperatures there aren't unusual. I live in warmer Pennsylvania where I've seen 20 below and we didn't have “exploding trees”.
Southern tree species are another story.