Windstorm tree risk checklist for Greater Victoria homes
Before storm season, walk around every large tree near your house, driveway or power lines. Look for cracks, decay, fungi, lifting soil, a new lean, dead or hanging branches, split-prone forks and damaged roots. Then sort each tree into one of three piles: keep watching, get it assessed, or act now.
BC Hydro notes that storm damage is most common in the fall and winter months, when strong wind and heavy rain arrive together. The province's November 2024 advisory, for example, forecast strong southeasterly winds for coastal B.C. Early storms are hard on trees. When the ground is wet and the leaves are still on, the province warns, strong winds can uproot trees or break branches.
What should I look for on my trees before a windstorm?
Do this from the ground, in daylight. Keep your distance from any tree that already looks unstable. Photograph anything that worries you so you can compare after the next storm.
| What to look for | Why it matters | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Cracks in the trunk or a large limb | A crack is a break that has already started. | Get assessed; act now if the crack is fresh, deep or widening |
| Cavities and decay (hollows, soft or crumbly wood) | Decay reduces the solid wood holding the tree up | Get assessed |
| Fungal conks (shelf-like growths on the trunk or root flare) | Conks are fruiting bodies of decay fungi, and usually a sign of internal decay | Get assessed |
| Mushrooms at the base | Can point to root rot, which weakens anchorage | Watch; get assessed if they return each year or the tree also leans |
| Lifting or cracked soil around the base | The root plate may be pulling out of the ground | Act now |
| Heaving roots (roots rising or snapping on the windward side) | Roots are failing under load | Act now |
| A change in lean | A long-standing lean may be fine; a new or increasing lean is not | Act now if it is recent; get assessed if you are unsure |
| Dead or hanging branches ("hangers") | Broken limbs caught in the canopy can drop without warning | Get assessed; act now if one hangs over a path, driveway or roof |
| Co-dominant stems with included bark (two equal trunks in a tight V with bark pinched between) | Pinched bark stops the stems bonding, so the fork can split | Get assessed |
| Recent root damage from construction, trenching, paving or grade changes | Cut roots weaken anchorage; problems can appear years later | Get assessed |
| Trees near power lines | BC Hydro says falling trees and branches are a leading cause of outages | Get assessed; never prune near lines yourself |
"Watch" means recheck after each storm. "Get assessed" means book a professional look before the worst of the season. "Act now" means keep people, pets and cars out of the tree's reach and call for help the same day.
If you mostly see thinning crowns or dieback, a tree health assessment may be the better starting point.
Is it safe to deal with a downed tree or power line myself?
No. BC Hydro says to treat every downed line as live, even if it isn't sparking or buzzing. Stay at least 10 metres back (about the length of a bus), keep others away and call 9-1-1. The same applies to a tree that has fallen onto a line.
Don't climb a storm-damaged tree, either, because stressed wood can shift or snap. Don't cut fallen or leaning trees: wood under tension can spring back violently. And don't stand under hanging branches. Look from somewhere safe.
What should I do after a storm damages a tree?
Make the area safe, then document before anything is moved.
- Keep people away from the fall zone of any damaged or leaning tree.
- Take dated photos and video of the tree, the break, the roots and any damage to your home, fence or car. Your insurer may ask for them, so call them before cleanup.
- Check whether the tree is protected. Many Greater Victoria municipalities protect trees by species or size, and removal usually needs a permit.
- Ask about emergency removal rules. Some bylaws allow emergency removal of a hazardous tree with notice afterwards. Oak Bay and Colwood, for example, require you to report it by the end of the next business day, and Oak Bay also needs a TRAQ report. Rules differ, and some municipalities still require a permit; our arborist report guide has more. Check your municipal guide, such as Saanich or Victoria, or our consulting and permitting services page.
- Leave the hands-on work to qualified crews. Oakstead doesn't cut, prune or remove trees. Our partner referrals page connects you with vetted local crews, and we take no referral fees.
When should I get a professional tree risk assessment?
Book one if you find a "get assessed" sign, a large tree could hit your home, or you can't tell whether a tree is safe. A TRAQ-qualified arborist (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) rates how likely the tree is to fail, what it would hit and how serious that would be.
| Assessment | What it involves | Price (CAD, plus GST) |
|---|---|---|
| TRAQ Level 2 (basic) | A detailed ground-level inspection of the whole tree and its surroundings | from $495 |
| TRAQ Level 3 (advanced) | Adds testing to measure internal decay, such as resistograph drilling or sonic tomography | from $1,200 |
Oakstead is consulting-only. We assess the tree and tell you plainly what we'd do. Hands-on work goes to a vetted partner, so we're never trying to sell you a job. See our tree risk assessments page.
Printable windstorm tree checklist
- Walk around large trees near the house, driveway and power lines
- Look for cracks in the trunk and major limbs
- Check for cavities, soft wood and fungal conks
- Note any mushrooms at the base
- Look for lifting, cracked or heaving soil and roots
- Compare the tree's lean with older photos
- Spot dead or hanging branches over paths, roofs and parking
- Check tight V-shaped forks with pinched bark
- Note any recent digging, trenching or paving near the roots
- Take dated photos and book an assessment for anything that worries you
Not sure what you're looking at? Request a consultation or call (250) 888-9222, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my tree is going to fall?
No one can predict a failure with certainty, but some signs raise the risk sharply: soil lifting at the base, heaving roots, a new or growing lean, and fresh trunk cracks. If you see any of these, keep people out of the tree's reach and call an arborist the same day.
What are the most common hazard tree signs?
Common hazard tree signs are cracks, cavities and decay, fungal conks, dead or hanging branches, tight V-shaped forks with pinched bark, recent root damage from digging, and changes in lean or soil at the base. One sign alone may not mean danger, but it's worth a professional look.
Can I remove a storm-damaged tree without a permit in Victoria?
It depends on the municipality and the tree. Many local bylaws allow emergency removal of a hazardous tree with notice afterwards, but the rules vary. Photograph the damage first, then check your municipal tree permit guide or call the municipality before any cutting starts.
What does a tree risk assessment in Victoria cost?
At Oakstead, a TRAQ Level 2 basic assessment starts at $495 and a Level 3 advanced assessment with decay testing starts at $1,200 (CAD, plus GST). Level 2 is a detailed visual inspection. Level 3 is for suspected internal decay that can't be judged from outside.
What should I do if a tree falls on a power line?
Stay at least 10 metres back, keep others away and call 9-1-1. BC Hydro advises treating every downed line as live, even if it isn't sparking. Don't touch or move the tree or branches; leave the line to BC Hydro crews and first responders.
Sources
- BC Hydro, "La Niña, drought and storm readiness gap" (news release, September 30, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- BC Hydro, "Electrical Safety Week" (news release, May 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- BC Hydro, "BC Hydro reminds the public how to stay safe this storm season" (info bulletin, November 22, 2017) (opens in a new tab)
- BC Hydro, "Report: BC Hydro's most damaging storms of all time are recent history" (November 30, 2023) (opens in a new tab)
- Government of B.C., Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, "People encouraged to prepare for strong winds" (November 19, 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Government of B.C., Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, "Prepare for seasonal storms, heavy rain, winds" (October 22, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Capital Regional District, PrepareYourself, "Severe Weather" (opens in a new tab)
Related services
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