I agree with NH, mostly, but also see a few other things in our yard. Usually, more drying is better as long as you protect from sun and quick drying so don't hold back. Certainly no "bad" things happen letting a timber sit in the cold.
Old logging stories talk about trees "blowing apart" in real cold snaps, wonder if it is due to real dry humidity condition or to expansion of held moisture? Mostly happens to birches which are real weak anyway.
I find wood dries more than you'd think in winter time. Any sunny day pulls out some moisture and the low (really low in cold weather) relative humidity forces moisture out, even by sublimation (direct from solid to gas). I think the relative humidity is much more important to look at than temperature.
We like to dry cants 9-12 months ideally, with open sides and covered top in an open area so wind gets thru.
