Late summer wind events in Snohomish County have a way of finding the weakest point in a tree, and that's usually a limb union that was already compromised. A V-shaped union where two large limbs meet at a narrow angle is far more likely to split than a wider, U-shaped connection.
These weak unions often don't show obvious symptoms until wind puts real pressure on them. Included bark, where the union looks pinched or has a visible seam, is one of the clearer warning signs, but it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it specifically.
If a big limb or a section of your tree's canopy has always seemed a little precarious, late summer wind is exactly the kind of stress test that reveals it. Better to catch it before it comes down on its own terms.
Do you have a tree with a split trunk or a limb union that's always looked a little off to you? #StormPrep
Real photo of a V-shaped or included-bark limb union from a past assessment, or a downed limb from a past storm.
Canva text suggestion: "Is this union a weak point?" or "Wind finds the weak spot first"