Wind 

Fig 392  Wind damage to aspen.	Fig. 393  Wind damage to black cottonwood.	Fig. 394  Trees snapped from wind.	Fig. 395  Pattern of fallen trees from wind direction.

Distribution:  Throughout B.C.

TREE SPECIES ATTACKED: All species can be damaged by strong winds.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Toppled trees with root structure attached; broken branches mainly in the crown.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: Strong winds can cause branches to break off or uproot the entire tree. Uprooted trees lay parallel, often with a large mass of roots and soil attached. Damage can be restricted to small areas or extended to larger areas. Susceptible trees are often diseased, along the margin of a harvested area, have shallow roots due to a high water table or shallow soils, or are stressed by other factors, such as poor drainage.

DAMAGE: Periodic exposure to high winds can greatly reduce crown and stem quality and height growth. Tree mortality occurs when a tree is toppled. Trees subjected to continuous wind exposure, especially in higher elevations, are vulnerable to winter desiccation damage.

SIMILAR DAMAGE: Trees that fall because of root rot, break at the root collar and lie in a criss-cross pattern in root disease centres..

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Contact Tim Ebata if you have comments on the presentation of this information.

BC Ministry of Forests
Forest Practices Branch
P.O. Box 9513 Stn. Prov. Gov.
Victoria, BC
V8W 9C2

Section phone: (250) 387-8739
Section fax: (250) 387-2136

Last updated March 04, 2002