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Storm-Damaged Tree With Hanging Branches
in Columbia, MO
Columbia gets severe thunderstorms from April through September, and straight-line winds above 60 mph are not unusual. These storms snap branches halfway through and leave them wedged in the canopy. The MKT Trail area and neighborhoods near Stephens Lake Park see a lot of storm damage because of the large mature trees near paths and homes.
Quick Answer
After a storm in Columbia, broken branches can get caught in upper limbs instead of falling all the way down. Tree workers call these widow makers because they fall without warning days or weeks later. The tree itself may survive, but those hanging pieces need to come out right away. Call (573) 615-8401 and stay out from under the tree until someone takes a look.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Broken branches visibly lodged in the upper canopy after a storm
- Fresh wood exposed where a branch snapped, showing white or yellow wood
- Bark stripped off the trunk in a long vertical strip
- A large branch partially attached and hanging at an angle
- Debris on the ground under the tree but the branch that caused it is still up there
- The tree is leaning slightly that it wasn't before the storm
Root Causes
What Causes Storm-Damaged Tree With Hanging Branches?
Straight-Line Wind Snapping Branches
Columbia's spring and summer storm systems regularly produce straight-line winds that snap branches rather than uprooting the whole tree. A branch can break 15 feet up, fall a few feet, and then get caught on lower limbs where it sits until the next breeze moves it.
The Fix
Hazard Branch Removal
A climber or bucket truck is used to safely dislodge and lower the hanging sections. Working from the ground with a pole saw on these situations usually just knocks the branch loose in an uncontrolled way.
Weak Branch Attachment Points
Trees with V-shaped crotches where two stems meet have very little wood holding them together. When Columbia summers bring storms with 3 to 4 inches of rain in under an hour, the added weight of wet leaves on a weak crotch snaps it. These failures look dramatic but the causes were there long before the storm.
The Fix
Damaged Limb Removal and Cabling
The broken section is removed cleanly back to the main stem. If the remaining structure has other weak crotches, a steel cable can be installed between stems to reduce the load on the attachment point.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Straight-Line Wind Snapping Branches | Weak Branch Attachment Points |
|---|---|---|
| Clean snap across a large branch with wood exposed, branch caught above | ||
| V-shaped split in the trunk where two main stems divide | ||
| Multiple branches down in yard but one large piece still hanging | ||
| Crack along the trunk running down from a branch union | ||
| Branch swaying independently from the tree during light wind |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Columbia
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
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