1. Cracked or Splitting Branches

Storm winds put enormous stress on limbs.

If you see branches with visible cracks, splits, or drooping, they may not hold up much longer — especially in high-traffic areas like near driveways, homes, or play areas.

2. Uprooting or Soil Heaving

Walk around the base of your trees.

If the soil is lifted, or roots are suddenly exposed or loosened, your tree may have begun to tip or uproot. That’s a high-risk emergency — especially in saturated soils.

3. Fresh Leaning or Tilt

Did your tree lean more after the storm than before?

A new lean is usually a sign of root failure or iternal trunk damage — especially with coastal winds like those in Creasent Head or South West Rocks.

4. Fungal Growth or Bark Loss

Storms can expose Weakened areas that begin to rot fast.

If you notice mushrooms, bark peeling, or dark stains, the tree may be decaying from the inside out. These trees often fail with little warning.

5. Hanging Limbs (a.k.a. “Widow Makers”)

Dead or broken branches stuck in the canopy are dangerous and unpredictable. They can fall at any time, especially in the days following a storm.