Storm Season Tree Safety: How to Spot a Hazardous Tree Before It Falls

Every year, atmospheric river storms and windstorms move through the Lower Mainland, and every year, some of those storms bring down trees that had been showing warning signs for months, sometimes years, before anyone called someone to look at them. Most homeowners aren’t trained to spot the difference between a tree that’s simply old and a tree that’s genuinely at risk of falling, and that gap in knowledge is exactly what turns a preventable problem into an emergency call during the worst possible weather.

Why Storm Season Raises the Stakes

A tree that’s been quietly declining for years can hold up fine during calm weather, then fail suddenly once high winds and saturated soil combine to put real stress on its root system and structure. Wet soil loosens root anchoring, and sustained wind loads test weak points that simply aren’t obvious under normal conditions. This is why hazard assessment matters most before storm season arrives, not after a tree has already come down.

Warning Signs Worth Taking Seriously

A few signs tend to show up consistently in trees that are genuinely at risk, and most of them are visible without any special equipment.

• Large dead branches or a significant amount of deadwood in the canopy, particularly if it’s spread throughout the tree rather than isolated to one area.
• Cracks or splits in the trunk or major limbs, especially ones that appear to be widening or have exposed wood underneath.
• Fungal growth at the base or on the trunk, which often signals internal decay that isn’t visible from the outside.
• A noticeable lean, particularly one that’s new or has become more pronounced recently, rather than a lean the tree has always had.
• Exposed or damaged roots, especially near construction, recent excavation, or areas where soil has eroded.
• Cavities or hollow sections in the trunk, which can significantly weaken structural integrity even if the tree still looks healthy from a distance.

Any one of these signs on its own isn’t necessarily a reason to panic, but a tree showing several of them, particularly near a house, driveway, or area where people spend time, is worth having assessed by a professional.

What Makes a Tree More Likely to Fail in Wind

Trees with a lot of canopy relative to their root spread, or ones that have been recently exposed after nearby trees were removed, tend to be more vulnerable during storms. A tree that grew up sheltered by its neighbours suddenly facing direct wind load for the first time is a genuinely higher-risk situation, even if the tree itself looks perfectly healthy. Species matter too, since some trees are naturally more prone to limb failure or shallow rooting than others, which is part of why a professional assessment accounts for more than just visible symptoms.

What to Do If You Spot Warning Signs

If you notice any of these signs on a tree near your home, the safest move is having it properly assessed before storm season rather than waiting to see what happens. A hazard assessment looks at the whole picture, root condition, trunk integrity, canopy balance, and species-specific risk factors, to give you a realistic sense of whether the tree needs monitoring, pruning to reduce risk, or removal. In some cases, tree removal is genuinely the safest option, particularly for a tree with significant internal decay or root damage near a structure.

During and After a Storm

If a storm is already underway and you notice a tree that looks like it’s under visible stress, leaning further than usual, dropping large limbs, or showing new cracking, keep people and vehicles away from the area and call for an emergency assessment rather than waiting it out. After a storm passes, it’s worth doing a walk-around of your property to check for new leans, cracked limbs, or exposed roots that weren’t there before, even on trees that came through without an obvious problem. Our news and tips section has more seasonal guidance if you want to stay ahead of issues year-round.

Permits and Removing a Hazardous Tree

Removing a tree, even a genuinely hazardous one, sometimes still requires checking local requirements first. Many municipalities have provisions for emergency removal when safety is at immediate risk, but it’s worth understanding your local city bylaws around tree removal generally, since requirements vary and a professional service will typically already know what applies in your specific area.

Being Proactive Instead of Reactive

The homeowners who avoid emergency tree calls during storm season are usually the ones who had a hazard assessment done well before the weather turned. Waiting until a tree is visibly leaning during a windstorm to make the call means dealing with the problem under much worse conditions, and often at a higher cost, than addressing it proactively. Our arborist vancouver bc team offers structural assessments specifically to catch these issues before they become emergencies.

If you’re not sure whether a tree on your property is a risk heading into storm season, get a quote for a hazard assessment and we’ll give you an honest read on what you’re dealing with.

Frequently Asked Questions