Tree Struck by Lightning: What to Do Next

Roanoke Tree Removal is a local referral service: we pass your request to an independent, local tree crew. We are not a contractor or a government office, and this page is general information, not legal advice.

Safety first, during and after the storm

The National Weather Service says no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Get into a substantial building with electricity or plumbing, or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with the windows up, and stay there at least 30 minutes after the last thunder. If you are caught outside, never shelter under an isolated tree. Afterward, check for hanging limbs and stay clear of any wire the tree touched. Our tree near power lines guide explains who handles a tree on a line.

Signs your tree was hit

University of Maryland Extension says a strike boils the water under the bark and the steam blows strips off. A shorter crack that does not run the full trunk can be a side flash, where the charge jumps to a nearby object. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension lists the common signs:

• Bark damage, from one narrow strip to a fully debarked trunk.
• Deep vertical cracks in branches or the trunk.
• A trunk or limb split apart.
• Damage you cannot see, inside the trunk or in the roots.

Iowa State Extension notes that lightning usually hits one tree while neighbors look fine. UC IPM cautions that other problems can look similar, so unless you saw the strike or the wound is classic, have the cause checked.

Will a lightning-struck tree die?

Often no one can tell right away. Nebraska Extension says to wait and see, often a few months, unless the trunk or branches are badly cracked or split or broken limbs are hanging. Maryland Extension suggests a full growing season if possible. Alabama Extension says to wait several weeks before pruning or removal so damage shows in the crown, and notes that hidden damage can make leaves wilt and brown days after the strike. For general decline signs, see how to tell if a tree is dying.

When removal is the safer call

Alabama Extension's management table and Nebraska Extension's guidelines line up closely:

Alabama Extension adds that several scars on one side likely mean the tissue between them is dead. In the Roanoke Valley, "high-value target" usually means the house, a driveway, a deck, or the street. For trees with old decay, see hazard tree removal and our split tree trunk guide.

Beetles and decay after a strike

Alabama Extension says stressed, stripped trees give off compounds that attract insects. In pines, Ips beetles, southern pine beetle, and black turpentine beetle are the usual problem. In hardwoods, ambrosia beetles bore in and carry fungi; look for sawdust at the base or in bark crevices. Alabama Extension says no labeled product controls these beetles once they are inside, so preventive treatment has to go on within days, and it notes the benefit is debated. UC IPM also lists bark beetles, wood borers, and decay fungi as common follow-up killers. For struck pines, compare our pine tree removal cost guide.

First aid if you keep the tree

• Trim loose bark. Nebraska Extension says to cut loose bark back to healthy tissue with a sharp utility knife. Alabama Extension calls this bark tracing and warns not to enlarge the wound.
• Or tack it back. If the bark is attached and still moist underneath, Maryland and Nebraska Extension say it can be tacked in place and covered with burlap or plastic.
• Water in dry weather. Drought stress on top of a strike makes things worse.
• Prune broken limbs safely. Maryland Extension says hire an arborist if the tree is large, hazardous, or near power lines. Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests loppers and hand saws for branches 4 inches or less, and notes most chain saw injuries happen to tired homeowners.
• Re-inspect. UC IPM recommends periodic arborist checks.

What removal can cost (national)

Angi figures are national, not Roanoke quotes. See tree removal cost by size and emergency tree removal cost.

Insurance: lightning is a named peril for the tree

The Insurance Information Institute's sample HO-3 policy covers trees, shrubs, plants, and lawns on the residence premises for a short list of perils, starting with fire or lightning. It pays up to 5 percent of the dwelling limit for all of them, and no more than $500 for any one tree. Windstorm is not on that list. III's coverage overview says trees are generally covered for about $500 per item and are not covered for disease or poor maintenance. Your own policy wording controls. Virginia Cooperative Extension says to keep records and photos. Claim steps are in our fallen tree insurance claims guide, and tax questions in is tree removal tax deductible.

Protecting a tree you cannot replace

Nebraska Extension says solitary trees in the open, trees on hilltops, and the tallest tree around are the most likely to be hit, which describes plenty of ridge-top yards around Roanoke. Virginia Tech's Big Tree Program says a certified arborist can recommend pruning, cabling and bracing, and lightning protection systems. UC IPM notes that the National Fire Protection Association and the Tree Care Industry Association publish standards for tree lightning protection. ISA's Find an Arborist directory lists certified arborists.

Get a struck tree checked in the Roanoke Valley

Call (540) 904-1819 or use the form. Tell us the species if you know it, how close it is to the house or a line, and whether the trunk is split, cracked, or just missing bark. We will pass your request to an independent local tree crew. Related: arborist risk assessment and storm prep for Virginia trees.

Common questions

Sources

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Lightning Strikes: Will My Tree Survive? (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Caring for Lightning-Struck Trees (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• University of Maryland Extension, Lightning Damage (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Iowa State University Extension, How to Manage Storm-Damaged Trees (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• UC Statewide IPM Program, Lightning (Home and Landscape) (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• National Weather Service, Lightning Safety Tips (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Insurance Information Institute, sample HO-3 homeowners policy (PDF) (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Insurance Information Institute, What is covered by standard homeowners insurance? (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Angi, tree removal cost (national, updated Jul 8, 2026) (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Virginia Tech, Virginia Big Tree Program: Protecting Trees (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• Virginia Cooperative Extension, Storm Damage: Forests and Trees (PDF) (Checked Oct 16, 2026)
• International Society of Arboriculture, Find an Arborist (Checked Oct 16, 2026)