March 2026 Wind Storm: Protecting Trees Across SD, FL & KS

Good morning, tree lovers. As I'm writing this on Saturday morning, March 28th, my phone has been buzzing with weather alerts and calls from concerned homeowners across multiple states. We're dealing with a significant wind event that's stretching from South Dakota down through Kansas and all the way to Florida.

In my 14 years as an ISA Certified Arborist, I've seen how quickly moderate wind events can turn into major tree emergencies. Right now, we have active wind advisories in effect across three distinct regions, and I want to help you understand what this means for your trees and what you need to do today.

What's Happening Right Now

The National Weather Service has issued wind advisories for several key areas that are particularly concerning from a tree health perspective:

• South Dakota: Deuel, Grant, Codington, Roberts, and Marshall counties are seeing the highest risk levels at 30/100 (moderate). The Aberdeen office has these advisories running through 5:00-7:00 PM today.
• Kansas: Statewide concerns with advisories from the Wichita office extending until 7:00 PM tonight.
• Florida: Jacksonville and Melbourne regions under advisories that will continue well into Sunday, with some extending until 4:00 PM tomorrow.

What makes this weather pattern particularly challenging is its geographic spread. We're not dealing with a single storm system, but rather multiple pressure systems creating sustained wind conditions across vastly different climates and tree populations.

Species at Greatest Risk Right Now

Based on the affected regions and current seasonal conditions, here are the trees I'm most concerned about:

In South Dakota and Kansas:

• Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides): These giants are just beginning their spring growth phase, making their brittle wood even more susceptible to wind damage. I've seen 60+ foot cottonwoods lose major limbs in 35 mph sustained winds.
• Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila): Unfortunately common in these areas, these trees have notoriously weak branch attachments. Even healthy specimens can fail catastrophically.
• Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica): If your ash trees are already compromised by Emerald Ash Borer damage, today's winds could be the final straw.

In Florida:

• Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia): These are notorious for sudden limb failure, especially during March when they're putting energy into new growth.
• Sand Pine (Pinus clausa): Shallow root systems make these particularly vulnerable to uprooting in sustained winds.
• Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia): If you have these invasive species on your property, they should be your top priority for removal - not just today, but permanently.

What Homeowners Must Do RIGHT NOW

Don't wait for the winds to peak. Here's your immediate action plan:

Before 2:00 PM Today (Critical Window):

1. Walk your property immediately. Look up and around every tree within falling distance of structures, power lines, or high-use areas.
2. Remove any loose objects that could become projectiles: lawn furniture, grills, decorations, or tools.
3. Check for these red flags:
   • Dead or hanging branches (we call these "widowmakers")
   • Trees leaning more than 15 degrees
   • Exposed root systems or soil heaving around the base
   • Cracks in the trunk or major branch unions
   • Fungal growth (mushrooms/conks) on trunks or major roots
4. Document everything with photos. Insurance claims move much faster with before-and-after documentation.

During the Wind Event:

• Stay indoors and away from windows that face your largest trees.
• If you hear cracking or breaking sounds, move to the most interior room of your home.
• Never attempt to cut or move downed branches during active weather. I cannot stress this enough - I've treated too many chainsaw injuries from homeowners who thought they could "quickly" clear a branch.

When to Call a Professional Arborist

As much as I appreciate DIY tree care, certain situations require professional expertise:

• Immediately: Any tree or large branch touching power lines
• Within 24 hours: Trees blocking roadways or emergency access routes
• Within 48 hours: Structural damage to trees over 15 feet tall or within falling distance of buildings
• This week: Any tree that showed stress signs during today's winds but didn't fail

Remember, a tree that survives today's winds but shows signs of stress (leaning, cracked branches, exposed roots) is often more dangerous than one that fails cleanly. These "wounded warriors" can fail unexpectedly weeks or months later.

Recovery and Next Steps

For trees that sustain damage but don't require removal, proper pruning is critical. Improper storm cleanup can kill a tree more effectively than the storm itself. Here's what you need to know:

• Clean cuts heal faster than torn wood. Jagged breaks from wind damage should be properly pruned back to the nearest lateral branch or trunk.
• Don't top damaged trees. I see this mistake constantly after storms. Topping creates weak regrowth that will fail in future wind events.
• Recovery timelines vary by species: Oaks and maples can take 3-5 years to fully recover from major limb loss, while faster-growing species like willows and cottonwoods may show full canopy recovery in 2-3 years.

Long-term Prevention

Once we get through this wind event, it's time to think about prevention. Regular tree maintenance isn't just about aesthetics - it's about creating resilient trees that can weather future storms.

The best time to prevent storm damage is between storm events. Professional pruning, cabling of weak unions, and strategic tree selection for new plantings can dramatically reduce your risk in future wind events.

Get Professional Help

If you're dealing with storm damage or want to assess your trees' risk for future events, don't go it alone. Use our emergency tree triage tool to determine if your situation requires immediate professional attention, or browse our certified contractor finder to locate qualified arborists in your area.

Stay safe out there, and remember - trees are replaceable, but you're not. When in doubt, call a professional. Your trees (and your insurance company) will thank you.

For emergency consultations or questions about storm-damaged trees, contact Tree Wise Men LLC. We're here to help you make informed decisions about your trees' health and safety.