A lightning bolt is an impressive sight. It’s also a powerful force that can cause damage, both to people and to property. One of the most common dangers of lightning is its ability to start fires, which can happen when the bolt strikes a tree.
The Event of Lighting Striking a Tree
When lightning strikes a tree, the electricity can travel through the tree’s sap, branches, and leaves. The sap is the tree’s blood and helps carry the electricity throughout the tree. If the sap is dry, the electricity can travel more easily through the tree.
On the other hand, the branches are like the tree’s arms and help spread the electricity throughout the tree. Meanwhile, leaves are like the tree’s lungs and help release electricity into the air.
Should the tree explode once the lightning has struck, it is likely that the sap has been heated to a very high temperature and has caused the tree to explode. This event mostly happens on specific trees, such as eucalyptus, oak, and pine trees.
How Often Does Lightning Strike Trees
The answer to this question relies on where you are located, the time of year, and the recent weather patterns. Generally speaking, the chances of a tree being struck by lightning are relatively slim. However, if there have been a lot of storms in your area recently or your location is prone to lightning strikes, the risk is higher.
Nonetheless, it’s always best to take measures to protect your trees from lightning damage, especially if they are taller or have a lot of branches.
Are Tall Trees at Risk Too?
Of course! In fact, people hire tree-trimming services to prevent tall trees from being struck by lightning. After all, tall trees are more likely to be struck by lightning because they are taller than other trees and can easily attract electricity. This can cause further damage to areas surrounding them, such as houses, power lines, and other trees.
Can Lightning Strike a Tree and Not Burn it?
Although it can be rare for a lightning bolt to strike a tree and not cause a fire, it is possible. If the lightning bolt is not very powerful, it may not be able to travel very far into the tree and will instead just heat the surrounding air. This can cause the tree to burst into flames, but it will not be damaged.
How to Protect Trees from Lightning
The best way to ensure safety from lightning is to hire tree services to help safeguard them from potential damage. Lightning protection systems, such as grounding rods and Faraday’s cages, can be installed to help reduce the risk of a lightning strike. Trees taller or with many branches are more likely to be struck by lightning, so it is important to employ tree-trimming services to cut them down.
Final Thoughts
Many things could happen when lighting strikes a tree. The tree could catch on fire, the electricity could cause the tree to fall over, or the tree could be uprooted. These things could cause damage to people or property, so it’s important to be aware of these threats and take steps to avoid them.
ATL Tree Work provides extensive tree services in John’s Creek and other areas to safeguard them from lightning strikes. Contact us today for your tree removal or trimming needs!
