Western New York weather can be notoriously harsh on mature trees. Severe wind gusts, lake-effect squalls, and heavy wet snow frequently expose hidden structural defects in maples, oaks, and ash trees.
1. Root Plate Lifting or Soil Mounding
If soil on one side of the tree trunk appears pushed upward or cracked, the root system has failed and the tree is in immediate danger of toppling.
2. V-Shaped Trunk Cracks
Vertical fissures running down the main trunk indicate internal structural failure from twisting wind shear.
3. Hanging Branches (Widow-Makers)
Large detached branches lodged in the canopy can drop without warning during mild wind.