How to Tell If a Storm-Damaged Tree Is Safe After a Storm

A storm-damaged tree is usually safe if its trunk, main limbs and root plate came through intact. It is not safe if it shows a new lean or lifted roots. A split trunk or a broken limb hung in the canopy is also a hazard. Keep people back, and have a professional look before anyone works near them.

Trees are tough, and most can recover from losing some branches. Even so, a few storm-damaged trees carry real risk. Telling the two apart keeps your family safe and saves you from paying for removals you don't need.

How do I check a storm-damaged tree safely?

Start from a distance, because several of the worst hazards are visible from far away. Stand farther back than the tree is tall if your yard allows it. From there, decide whether it is even safe to walk closer.

Hanging limbs in the canopy. Look up through the crown for big branches that snapped partway and now hang in the canopy. People call these widow makers, and nothing tells you when they will drop. So if you see one, don't walk under that tree.

A new lean. A tree with an old, steady lean has grown its roots and wood to carry that angle. In contrast, a new lean after a storm points to something far more serious. Check the base too. Has one side of the root plate lifted? If so, or if the soil has cracked in a curve, the roots may have failed. The Nebraska Forest Service warns that a tree leaning after a storm has major root failure.

A split or cracked trunk. Long vertical cracks near the base or at a major fork mean the wood has started to fail. A tight V fork with included bark is the classic weak spot. That union was weak before the storm, and the wind has now started to pull it apart.

Crown loss or structural failure. These two look different once you know what to watch for. A tree that lost many small branches but kept its trunk and main limbs is damaged but likely sound. However, a tree with broken main limbs or a cracked trunk is a different story.

What warning signs mean a tree is unsafe?

The clearest warning signs are a lifted root plate, fresh trunk cracks, cracked forks and large hung limbs. Once you've looked from a distance, check these areas more closely. If you find any of them on a tree near your house, treat the tree as unsafe.

At the base of the tree:

• Roots lifted on one side, even by a few inches
• Soil that has cracked or heaved in a curve around the trunk
• Mushrooms, conks or weeping wounds near the base, which can mean internal decay
• A new cavity at the base that the storm has opened up

On the trunk:

• New vertical cracks, especially long ones
• Spiral cracks, which show the tree twisted under the wind
• Large patches where the storm stripped the bark away
• Soft or discolored wood at any point of damage
• New bulges or swelling that hint at a failure inside

At the forks:

• Main stems that cracked but didn't fully separate, since they can finish failing at any time
• Included bark forks that now show a crack or a small gap

In the crown:

• Big broken limbs hung in the canopy
• Large sections bent sharply down, because a bent limb that hangs on is unpredictable
• Damage on several levels, which suggests the failure isn't finished yet

Which storm damage can a tree recover from?

A tree usually recovers from small and medium branch loss, bark scrapes and light tip dieback. In each case the trunk, main limbs and roots stay sound. Not everything that looks alarming after a storm is a hazard.

Small and medium branch loss. If the trunk and main limbs are intact, the tree is likely recovering rather than failing. Losing leaves and twigs costs the tree energy, but it isn't a structural failure.

Surface bark wounds. Debris, ice or a falling neighbor tree can scrape bark off the trunk. Those wounds look raw but rarely weaken the wood. They do close slowly, though, so leave them alone. The Nebraska Forest Service also advises against paint or wound dressing on those cuts.

An old lean that hasn't changed. If the lean has been there for years and the soil looks undisturbed, the tree is likely still in balance.

Minor tip dieback. Wind and ice often kill the tips of exposed branches. That is mostly cosmetic and doesn't mean the tree is failing.

When should I call a professional after a storm?

Call right away for a new lean, lifted roots, a split trunk or a hung limb over your house. The same goes for any tree touching a wire. Call within a day or two for heavy canopy damage over a building or a busy part of the yard. If you aren't sure, call anyway.

Call right away for:

• A new lean, lifted roots or cracked soil near the base
• A large broken limb hung in the canopy over a house or a busy area
• A split trunk or cracked main limb, especially over a structure
• Any tree that touches or tangles with utility lines

Stay well away from any limb on a wire. The Nebraska Forest Service notes that pruning near power lines takes special training. So call the power company for lines on the street side. On the homeowner side, Shawn's crew clears limbs off service lines.

Call within a day or two for:

• Heavy canopy damage directly over a house or a busy part of the yard
• An older tree with known decay at the base that took a hard hit
• Any tree you're unsure about that stands near something that matters

An experienced crew checks the base, the trunk, the forks and the crown. That matters, because a ground check only shows part of the picture. For high-value trees, arborists can also use special tools that measure decay inside the trunk.

After a storm, Shawn gives the estimates himself. Therese M. wrote, "Shawn came out just after the storm and gave me an estimate to take the limb away."

What are the options for a damaged tree?

The options are removing only the hung limbs, removing the whole tree, monitoring with follow-up pruning, or cabling and bracing. The right one depends on what the assessment finds.

Removing the hanging limbs only. If the structure is sound, the crew takes out the widow makers and broken limbs. That fixes the immediate hazard and keeps the tree.

Full removal. If the trunk or roots have failed beyond repair, removal is the right answer, especially near a house. See our emergency storm damage services.

Monitoring and follow-up pruning. Some damage can wait for the next pruning visit. Examples include large wounds to watch and small defects away from buildings.

Cabling and bracing. For a valuable tree with a specific weak spot, cables and braces can add support. This needs its own assessment, and it doesn't suit every tree.

GXB Precision Tree Care handles emergency and storm damage response across Dutchess County. If you're unsure about a tree after a storm, a professional assessment is the right next step.

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Unsure about a damaged tree on your property? Request an assessment, and we'll tell you what you're dealing with.