Why Summer Storms Can Be a Threat to Weak Trees

July 16, 2025

How to Protect Your Property This Summer

Midwestern summers are known for their beauty: long sunny days, lush greenery, and warm evenings. But they also bring a regular cycle of heavy storms. Thunderstorms, high winds, and saturated ground can wreak havoc on vulnerable trees, creating serious safety hazards and costly property damage.


For homeowners and property managers, understanding how storm conditions interact with tree health is essential. The good news is that most storm-related tree failures are preventable with proactive care and inspection. This article will explore why weak trees are especially at risk during summer storms and how working with a certified arborist can help safeguard your property.

A brick house with a lush green lawn and flowers in front of it.

What Makes Summer Storms So Dangerous?

Midwest summer storms often combine several risk factors that make conditions especially threatening for weakened or poorly maintained trees:

  • High Winds: Gusts can snap limbs or uproot entire trees, especially if they’re top-heavy or structurally compromised.
  • Soaked Soil: Prolonged rain softens the ground, weakening a tree’s root anchorage. Even a moderate wind can topple a tree in oversaturated soil.
  • Lightning Strikes: Trees are frequent lightning targets. While direct strikes are rare, they can cause hidden internal damage or ignite fires.
  • Sudden Gusts and Downbursts: Unlike steady wind, sudden, powerful gusts can twist or split limbs, particularly in trees with pre-existing cracks or imbalances.
A tree with lots of white flowers on it

Signs That a Tree Might Be Vulnerable

Not all trees are equally at risk. Healthy trees with strong root systems and balanced canopies are much more likely to withstand storm forces. In contrast, the following signs may indicate a tree is vulnerable:

  • Dead or dying branches (often visible as brittle, leafless limbs)
  • Leaning trunks or visible root upheaval
  • Cracks or splits in the trunk or large limbs
  • Excessive canopy density (which can catch the wind like a sail)
  • Fungal growth near the base of the tree or on limbs
  • Previous storm damage that has gone unaddressed



These symptoms suggest internal decay, poor structure, or weakening root systems, all of which increase the chance of failure during a storm.

A man is working on a tree with an orange crane.

The Cost of Inaction

Many property owners underestimate the consequences of tree failure until it’s too late. A large falling limb or tree can:

  • Damage vehicles, homes, roofs, or power lines
  • Block roads or driveways, creating emergency access issues
  • Injure people or pets, potentially resulting in liability
  • Disrupt power or internet, especially if utility lines are affected



Emergency removals after a storm are often more expensive and complicated than proactive maintenance. In some cases, insurance may not cover damage caused by a known hazard that wasn’t addressed in time.

A person is planting a tree in the ground with a shovel.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Here are steps you can take today to minimize storm-related risks:


Schedule a Professional Tree Inspection
A certified arborist can evaluate the health and structural stability of your trees. At Midwest Tree Surgeons, we identify potential hazards that might not be obvious to the untrained eye.


2. Remove Dead or Compromised Trees
If a tree is beyond saving, it’s better to remove it under controlled conditions than let a storm decide for you.


3. Trim and Thin Overgrown Canopies
Strategic pruning reduces wind resistance and removes weak or crossing limbs. This helps healthy trees stay upright and strong during storms.



4. Support Vulnerable Trees
In some cases, younger or slightly leaning trees can be braced or cabled to increase their resilience.

Lightning strikes over a field at night with a fence in the foreground.

Why Work With a Professional Arborist?

Tree work is not just about cutting limbs. It’s about understanding tree biology, structure, and how to make decisions that promote long-term safety and health. At Midwest Tree Surgeons, we specialize in evaluating trees for storm risk and providing tailored solutions, whether that means pruning, removal, or support systems.


We bring years of experience, proper equipment, and the training to handle even the most complicated situations safely and efficiently. Our goal is to protect both your property and your trees wherever possible.


Book an Inspection Before the Next Storm Hits

Summer storms will keep coming. The question is whether your trees are ready to weather them. If you’ve noticed leaning trunks, dead branches, or trees that just don’t look quite right, now is the time to act.


Contact Midwest Tree Surgeons today to schedule a storm-readiness assessment. A little preparation now can prevent a major disaster later.

A purple lightning bolt strikes a building at night
A man is hanging from a crane with a blue sky in the background.
A large pine tree is surrounded by other trees in a park on a sunny day.
There is a lot of lightning in the sky at night.
A man is cutting down a large tree with a chainsaw.
A man is sitting on a tree branch in the woods.

How a Long-Lived Tree Can Become a Valuable Part of a Property’s Identity

October 23, 2026
Some trees become more than landscaping .  They become landmarks . A mature oak near the driveway, an old maple shading the backyard, or a large tree that has stood beside a home for generations can become part of how people recognize and remember a property. That kind of tree has value that is difficult to measure with size alone. It can shape the look of the land, provide shade, frame views, and create a sense of permanence that younger landscaping simply cannot reproduce overnight. That is why preserving a healthy, long-lived tree can be worth serious consideration.

Why Fungal Growth on the Trunk Deserves Attention

October 13, 2026
Mushrooms or other fungal growth on a tree trunk can look harmless, especially if the tree still has a full canopy. But fungal growth can sometimes be a sign that wood inside the tree is beginning to decay. That does not mean every mushroom automatically makes a tree dangerous. It does mean the tree deserves a closer look, particularly when the fungus is growing directly from the trunk, root flare, or a large structural root. For homeowners, recognizing that warning sign early can make it easier to evaluate the tree before a hidden problem becomes more serious.

How to Identify Tree-of-Heaven and Why Professional Removal Matters

October 9, 2026
Tree-of-heaven sounds harmless, but Ailanthus altissima is an aggressive invasive tree that has become established throughout much of the United States, including the Midwest. Originally native to China and Taiwan, tree-of-heaven was introduced to the United States in the late 1700s as an ornamental tree. Its ability to tolerate poor soil, pollution, disturbed ground, and difficult urban conditions helped it spread far beyond cultivated landscapes. Today, it can be found along roadsides, rail corridors, vacant lots, woodland edges, and other disturbed areas throughout the Midwest. Knowing how to recognize it is important because removing it incorrectly can actually make the infestation worse. Look Closely at the Leaves Tree-of-heaven has very large compound leaves made up of numerous individual leaflets. A single leaf can contain roughly 10 to 40 or more leaflets arranged along a central stem. Near the base of each leaflet are distinctive glandular teeth or notches that can help separate tree-of-heaven from similar-looking native species. Crushing the foliage is another useful clue. The leaves can produce a strong, unpleasant odor that has sometimes been compared to rancid or burnt peanut butter.

What Homeowners Should Check Before Severe Winter Weather Arrives

September 29, 2026
Winter can place significant stress on trees, especially when heavy snow, ice, strong winds, and rapid temperature changes arrive together. A tree that appears stable in mild weather may react very differently once branches are loaded with snow or the soil freezes. That is why late fall is a useful time for homeowners to look for warning signs before severe winter weather begins. A careful inspection can help identify weak branches, structural defects, and other concerns that may become more dangerous during a storm.

How Bagworms Can Damage Evergreens

September 23, 2026
Evergreens are often valued because they provide year-round color, screening, and structure in the landscape. When sections of an arborvitae, juniper, spruce, or similar evergreen suddenly begin turning brown or losing foliage, however, bagworms may be responsible. Bagworms are caterpillars that construct protective bags from silk and pieces of the plants they are feeding on. Because those bags blend into surrounding foliage, an infestation can become significant before the insects attract much attention. Understanding how bagworms feed and when they are easiest to control can help protect valuable trees and shrubs from unnecessary damage. The Bags Can Be Easy to Miss Bagworms get their name from the portable cases they build around themselves. As the larvae feed , they add pieces of needles, leaves, and twigs to the outside of the bag. This camouflage can make them difficult to recognize, particularly when populations are still relatively small. The bags may look like small brown cones or pieces of dried vegetation hanging from the branches. Penn State Extension notes that bagworms can become serious pests on arborvitae, juniper, spruce, fir, and other conifers because substantial feeding damage can occur before the infestation becomes obvious.

Why Fall Is a Good Time to Evaluate Tree Structure

September 18, 2026
Fall is an especially useful time to take a closer look at the structure of mature trees . As leaves begin to thin and eventually drop, branches, unions, cracks, cavities, and other structural features become easier to see.  That makes autumn a practical season for identifying problems that may be harder to spot during summer. It also gives homeowners time to address weak limbs or other concerns before winter snow, ice, and wind place additional stress on the canopy.

What Root Flare Can Tell You About Planting Depth

September 10, 2026
A healthy tree should not look like a telephone pole entering the ground. Near the base of the trunk, the tree should widen where the major roots begin to spread outward. This area is known as the root flare, and it can reveal a great deal about whether a tree was planted at the correct depth.  When the root flare is buried under soil, mulch, or landscaping material, the tree may face long-term problems that are easy to miss at first. Looking at the base of the trunk is one of the simplest ways to spot a planting issue before it becomes more serious.

What Sudden Branch Dieback Can Mean

September 2, 2026
A tree can appear healthy overall and still develop a section of dead or dying branches. When branch dieback appears suddenly, especially in one part of the canopy, it can be a sign that something is interfering with the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients where they are needed.  For homeowners, the important question is not simply whether a branch is dead, but why it died. Midwest Tree Surgeons evaluates tree health, structure, pests , disease, and site conditions to help determine what may be causing the change.

Why Topping a Tree Can Create Long-Term Problems

August 25, 2026
When a tree grows too large for its surroundings, removing the upper portion of the canopy may seem like a quick solution. This practice, commonly called tree topping, involves cutting major branches or leaders back to stubs or lateral branches that are too small to assume the terminal role.  Although topping can immediately reduce a tree’s height, it can also create lasting structural and health problems. For homeowners concerned about an oversized or potentially hazardous tree, professional pruning is generally a better approach.

Why Correct Pest Identification Matters Before Treatment

August 18, 2026
When insects begin damaging a tree, the first instinct may be to treat the problem as quickly as possible. But not every insect requires the same response, and some insects that look harmful may not be the actual cause of the decline. Applying the wrong treatment can waste time, money, and potentially put additional stress on the tree.  Midwest Tree Surgeons takes a diagnosis-first approach to tree care. Correct pest identification helps determine whether treatment is needed, which method is appropriate, and whether the real problem may involve disease, environmental stress, or another underlying issue.
More Posts