How to Tell if a Tree Is Dangerous After High Winds

Santa Ana winds and coastal storms put real stress on Malibu’s trees — especially mature oaks on slopes and ornamentals exposed to the ocean. After a wind event, a quick walk of your property can catch a failing tree before it becomes an emergency.

Here is what to look for, what to do, and when to call.

Visible signs of danger

Check your trees for these signs after any significant wind:

• Cracks or splits in the trunk — a sign the structure is failing.
• A sudden lean — a tree that shifted during the wind event.
• Lifted root plate — soil heaving at the base means the roots are pulling out.
• Hanging or broken limbs — sometimes called widowmakers; these can fall without warning.
• Cracked unions — the point where a limb meets the trunk is splitting.
• Soil cracks around the base — another sign of root movement.

Any one of these warrants a closer look from an arborist.

Hanging or broken limbs (widowmakers)

A limb that has cracked but is still partially attached — or one that has fallen and lodged in the canopy — is one of the most dangerous situations after wind. It can drop without warning. Keep people and pets out from under it and call for emergency service. Do not try to cut it down yourself; a loaded limb can rotate and kick unpredictably when cut.

Soil heaving around the base

If the soil at the base of a tree has lifted or cracked, the root plate is moving. This is a high failure risk — the tree may not be stable even if it looks upright. Stay back and call for an evaluation.

When to evacuate the area and call

Treat it as an emergency if:

• The tree is leaning toward a structure, driveway, or area people use.
• A large limb is hung up and ready to fall.
• The tree has partially uprooted.
• A tree or limb is on a structure, vehicle, or power line.

For power line involvement, keep your distance and call the utility and the emergency line.

What an arborist checks in a post-storm assessment

A post-storm evaluation looks at:

• Trunk integrity — cracks, splits, and hidden damage.
• Root plate stability — signs of lifting or movement.
• Major unions — where limbs meet the trunk.
• The canopy — for hung-up or weakened limbs.
• Targets — what the tree or limb could hit if it failed.

The result is a documented risk assessment with a clear recommendation: remove, preserve with pruning or cabling, or monitor.

Documenting damage for insurance

If you will be filing an insurance claim, document before any cleanup:

• Photos of the tree, the damage, and anything it hit.
• Notes on the timing and the wind event.
• The scope of work needed.

West Coast provides photos, scope notes, and documentation to support your claim. See our Emergency Tree Service page for more on the response process.

The takeaway

After a wind event, a 10-minute walk of your property can catch a failing tree before it falls. If you see any of the signs above — especially a sudden lean, lifted roots, or hanging limbs — schedule emergency service or request a post-storm assessment. It is always cheaper to catch a hazard before it becomes a failure.