Every year, there are about 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the United States.¹ Lightning is created by the buildup and discharge of static electricity in the atmosphere. While it’s impossible to predict exactly where it will strike, it usually hits the tallest point in an area.² Since trees are often the tallest objects in a landscape, they are natural targets for lightning strikes.

However, not every tree is beyond saving after being struck by lightning. Recovery is possible in many cases with the right approach and the guidance of a certified arborist.

In this blog, we explain what to do when your tree is struck by lightning, including damage to look for, who to call, and how to help your tree recover.

Jump Ahead:

• Signs of a lightning-struck tree
• What to do if your tree is hit by lightning
• How to help a tree recover
• Contact expert arborists today

How to Tell If a Tree Has Been Struck by Lightning

When a tree is struck by lightning, the damage can either be immediately obvious or surprisingly subtle. Either way, it’s a serious event that can compromise the tree’s structure, health, and safety. Acting quickly can often mean the difference between saving the tree and removing it. 

Knowing what to look for can help you catch problems early and avoid serious safety risks. Below are common signs that a tree has been struck by lightning:

Bark and Trunk Damage

The force of a lightning strike is so powerful that it can strip away the bark in long vertical strips, exposing the inner wood. It may also create deep cracks or splits in the trunk that cause major structural issues. In severe cases, it can even debark the tree completely.

Branch Injury

The bark isn’t the only part of the tree that lightning can damage. Strikes can also cause the branches to splinter, shatter, or hang precariously. Compromised branches are at risk of falling and damaging surrounding people and property. This can also throw off the tree’s balance, putting it at risk of failure (falling).

Canopy Wilt or Gradual Dieback

Sometimes, a tree’s entire canopy can wilt immediately from the intense heat of a lightning strike. This can result in major lasting issues with nutrient and water distribution for the tree. The signs can also appear gradually over time, meaning leaves may slowly turn brown or fall off over several weeks, especially at the crown.

Leaning or Instability

A tree’s root system is its anchor, not only keeping it in place but also helping it absorb nutrients and water from the soil. Unfortunately, a lightning strike can cause damage to the roots that you can’t see above ground, which can make the tree lean or become unstable.

Even if it seems fine at first, root damage can cause it to slowly shift in the soil over time, increasing the risk of failure (falling) and even the death of the tree.

Steam Explosions

A steam explosion is a reaction that often happens when a tree is struck by lightning. The strike’s intense heat can instantly boil the sap and water inside, turning them into steam. This rapid response can cause an explosion that cracks the bark or sends it flying outward, resulting in visible scars, fractures, and charred areas on the trunk and branches. 

Steam explosions tend to be worse in diseased or rotting trees, which usually have more moisture concentrated inside them. 

Extreme Heat and Fires

With about 15% of wildfires caused by lightning strikes, it’s no secret that lightning is incredibly dangerous.³ Just one strike can reach up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.⁴ 

This extreme heat can cause any part of the tree to ignite—even the roots, which can start burning underground and spread the fire upward. That’s why it’s so important to closely monitor trees after lightning strikes and have them professionally inspected for damage. 

What to Do If Your Tree is Hit by Lightning

When lightning hits a tree on your property, your first priority should always be safety, both for yourself and anyone nearby. Responding properly is essential not only to protect people and property but also to improve the chances of your tree’s recovery.  

Below is a step-by-step overview of what to do when your tree is hit by lightning: 

Ensure Safety First

When it comes to lightning strikes, safety should always be your top priority. Immediately after a tree is hit, keep your distance—especially if it’s burning or near power lines. There may be residual electrical hazards or a risk of falling limbs, so stay put and try to assess the damage from afar. 

Document the Damage

From a safe spot, look for obvious signs of damage such as stripped bark, split limbs, or scorch marks. Take as many clear photos or videos of the affected tree as you can. This documentation will be valuable for insurance claims and will help your arborist understand the extent of the damage before their assessment.

Call the Right Professionals

While keeping a safe distance, observe the tree’s damage to determine who to call:

• If the tree is on fire, call the fire department.
• If the tree has contacted power lines, do not touch the tree and call 911. If you’re indoors or in a vehicle near downed power lines, stay inside until help arrives.
• If the tree is severely damaged, but not on fire or interfering with power lines, call an arborist. 
• If the damage seems less severe, call an arborist. Even if everything seems fine on the outside, tree care specialists have the unique insight to recognize dangerous issues.

If you are unsure who to call, and there is no immediate danger or emergency, start with a certified arborist. They can evaluate the risk and refer you to the appropriate emergency or utility service if needed.

How to Help a Tree Recover from a Lightning Strike

While lightning strikes have the potential to cause severe harm, not every tree struck by lightning is doomed. Many survive these incidents and go on to be healthy trees, even years after the strike occurs.

After any immediate danger has been addressed, a certified arborist can evaluate the tree’s risk to determine if it can be saved or if it should be removed. If the damage is too severe—such as deep splits or cracks in the trunk—tree removal may be the safest option for surrounding people and property. 

If the arborist determines your tree can recover from the strike, extra attention and professional care are necessary for restoring the tree to proper health. 

Below are some services that a tree care specialist can provide to help lightning-struck trees recover. 

Selective Pruning

A tree care specialist may prune dead, broken, or hazardous branches to reduce further injury and prevent pests or diseases. Major corrective pruning may be delayed for a few months so the tree can stabilize, which reveals the full extent of damage before any significant cuts are made. 

Structural Support 

If the tree’s structure is compromised after a lightning strike, cabling or bracing systems help stabilize weak limbs and prevent further damage from harsh weather conditions while the tree recovers: 

• Cabling involves installing high-strength steel cables between major limbs to reduce strain and movement. 
• Bracing uses threaded rods to support splits or cracks in the trunk or large branches. 

These methods reduce the risk of further breakage to give the tree a better chance of survival after a lightning strike.

Watering and Fertilization

Following a lightning strike, an arborist may recommend a consistent watering schedule to replenish lost moisture and help the tree recover from root damage. This can help speed up healing and stimulate new growth.

Fertilizer can also help encourage new growth, but only per the arborist’s instruction—over-fertilizing a stressed tree can do more harm than good.

Pest and Disease Prevention

Lightning wounds make it easier for pests and pathogens to enter the tree. An arborist may apply preventative treatments like insecticides or fungicides to protect it as it recovers. They can also give you tips for monitoring the tree for signs of infestation or infection.

Contact Our Arborists for Expert Tree Care in Sonoma County

Lightning strikes are more common than you might think, and when they happen, damage to trees and their surroundings can be severe. But with proper care and the guidance of a professional arborist, there may be a chance to preserve your tree and nurture it back to good health.

At Vintage Tree Care, our friendly certified arborists are here to help. With years of experience providing expert tree care services to Sonoma County residents, we’ll help you evaluate your tree’s risk after a lightning strike and guide you through the next best steps.

Contact us online or call (707) 495-4686 today to give your tree the expert care it deserves.

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References

1. NOAA’s National Weather Service. (n.d.). Lightning Safety Awareness Week. https://www.weather.gov/iln/lightningsafetyweek
2. NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. (n.d.). Lightning FAQ. https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning/faq/
3. Wildfire Causes and Evaluations (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/articles/wildfire-causes-and-evaluation.htm
4. NOAA’s National Weather Service. (n.d.-a). How hot is lightning? https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-temperature