Healthy trees are flexible and resilient, so it would be normal to think that it takes a lot for branches to break and even more to uproot trees. So this may leave you wondering what wind speed is dangerous for trees. There are a few factors that influence the results.
What Wind Speed Is Dangerous for Trees?
The effects of wind speed on trees have been studied and have thrown up some interesting conclusions and arguments. According to the scale presented below (see “Perspective”), winds of less than 54mph will cause a range of damage, whereas wind speeds of 55-63 mph will uproot and make trees fall. Meanwhile, gusts of only 20 mph are capable of causing damage to buildings or structures.
An important part of understanding the impact of wind blowing on trees is to measure wind speed in miles per second. Those measurements appear on the scale below as well.
During a storm, wind speeds can reach up to 42 m/s, or 90 mph. This is when most tree trunks will break, regardless of a tree’s elasticity, height, or diameter.
Strong Wind Danger
There are two main ways for a tree to break. In the rain-soaked ground, roots can rot and the wind will uproot the tree. If root systems hold, then the trunk will break as a result of torsion and being bent. This is referred to as stem lodging.
Scientific Research
Scientists have found that just about all trees break at just about the same wind speed. The reason for this appears to be because of tree mechanics and biology. These include tree ratios of elasticity, tree shape, and fracture characteristics. These factors outweigh tree species, size, and age.
Some scientists believe that tree height does play a role. Others argue that because trees are living entities, they are constantly adjusting to their environment and adjusting. Therefore, trees have a degree of autonomy when it comes to wind resistance and complete branch shredding, thereby undermining the sameness research a little. Scientists argue that trees are not passive engineering structures.
Storm Snapping, Bough Breaking Wind
After the 2009 cyclone that created large-scale tree damage in Europe, it was determined that the most damage was caused by sustained winds in excess of 42 m/s. The winds damaged both softwood and hardwood trees of all ages. This led researchers to investigate wood resistance. Although the experiments suggest that short, thin trees are as strong as tall, thick trees, researchers were unable to reach a consensus or definitive conclusion.
Experiments
An experiment was conducted using horizontal beech rods, beech being representative of average wood properties, with only mechanical differences in the different beech species. One end of the rod was fixed and increasing weight was applied to the other end to test curvature until the rods broke. It was observed that most of the curvature occurred at the fixed end and that the diameter and rod related to the critical curvature radius. This seemed the case with all the rods, despite different thicknesses and lengths.
The weight was then replaced with model wind gusts. One factor considered was that trees triple in diameter when doubling their height. This experiment showed that critical, damage-causing high wind speeds are only marginally dependent on the physical dimensions of a tree. Height only increased the wind speed requirement for breakage by 9 percent.
What Wind Speeds Can Knock Down Trees?
Here is a more formal definition of wind categories and descriptions, thanks to the Beaufort Wind Scale, in both miles per hour (mph) and miles per second (m/s).
- Calm: Less than 1 mile per hour winds. 0 m/s. Smoke rises vertically.
- Light air: 1-3 mile per hour winds. 0.5-1.5 m/s. Smoke drifts.
- Light breeze: 4-7 mile per hour winds. 2-3 m/s. The wind is felt on your face. Leaves rustle.
- Gentle breeze: 8-12 mile per hour winds. 2-3 m/s. Leaves and small twigs move. Light flags extend.
- Moderate breeze: 13-18 mile per hour winds. 5.5-8 m/s. Small branches sway, and dust and loose paper blow about.
- Fresh breeze: 19-24 mile per hour winds. 8.5-10.5 m/s. Small trees sway. Waves break on inland water.
- Strong breeze: 25-31 mile per hour winds. 11-13.5 m/s. Large branches sway. Umbrellas are difficult to use.
- Moderate gale: 32-38 mile per hour winds. 14-16.5 m/s. Whole trees sway. Difficult to walk against the wind.
- Fresh gale: 39-46 mile per hour winds. 17-20 m/s. Twigs break off. Very difficult to walk against the wind.
- Strong gale: 47-54 mile per hour winds. 20.5-23.5 m/s. Slight building damage. Shingles blow of the roof.
- Whole gale: 55-63 mile per hour winds. 24-27 m/s. Trees uproot. Considerable building damage.
- Storm: 63-73 mile per hour winds. 28-31.5 m/s. Widespread damage.
- Hurricane: over 73 mile per hour winds. Over 32 m/s. Violent destruction.
Additional Reading: Tree First Aid After a Storm – Arbor Day Foundation
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