The evening of January 6th through the morning of January 8th will be exceptionally cold for the Charlotte Metro Area. Most of the greater Charlotte are falls within the zone 7 hardiness zone. The average annual minimum temperature extremes range from 10°F – 0°F in zone 7, and we had reported lows of 7°F in some areas.
Between the temperatures of 22°F and 4°F plant cells will dehydrate to minimize ice crystal formation. For trees and shrubs not accustomed to such cold, areas of the plant may desiccate to the point of death. Often these areas are localized, and while they can be a stress to the plant, are usually just and aesthetic problem.
Pic borrowed from the University of Bergen: http://www.uib.no/arboretet/en/nyheter/2013/04/later-than-normal
