Wind - When is it too much

Magnum783 · Feb 15, 2016

Mods please delete me I am in the wrong spot!!!

Sorry for bombarding you guys lately with a ton of questions. The education is just available nowhere else in the world really. So how much wind is too much. I am not looking for mile an hour rating so much as something like when the tops are blowing a foot either way then its too much. Or does it depend on species of trees. On a pine in a hurricane you are fine or in a pine in a hurricane you were dead looking at it. You take your pick.

Here is my situation, today it was windy to begin with and only supposed to get worse. Wind gusts up to 65mph called for. I show up to the job which is to remove a few spruces in a cemetery. I arrive to find the wind is already stronger than I expected the tops of these 80's are blowing 3' either directions in the gusts mind you at this point the winds are lower (30mph with gusts of 38mph per the local airport) than what they are supposed to get. I opted out as I felt about the time I would get to the topping cut the wind would really be ripping and I could be tempting disaster at that point. I am a contract climber so I have that ability so home I went to study for my arborist exam (btw tree biology is dry)

What are the thoughts of you the pros did I make bad decision? I know you were not there but hopefully I gave you enough information to give me some better guidance next time this situation happens.

oldoakman · Feb 15, 2016

Well, when you cut the top out and it lands in the next county, its probably too windy. Seriously, whatever your comfort level is. Absolutely take into account the species and condition of the tree (this is where that dry tree biology comes in). As you said, you are a contract climber so you have the ball. If it's too much, go drink beer.

Merle Nelson · Feb 15, 2016

Yeah, push yourself to work when you feel it is not safe/great and you multiply your chances for mishap.

I dislike the extra and unexpected movement of gusting winds. I quit on wind early and often but, that's just me.

evo · Feb 16, 2016

I've been blown 8' off center in a tall scrawny Doug fir on a bluff. I have no idea what the wind speeds were. Generally we will climb until it becomes too difficult to work, or if it's on the ground we stop when things start falling (little pencil sized twigs).
My enviroment here is rural urban interface, so often we are working in second growth forested areas.

This past August I did a emergcy call in 70+ mph gusts in a silver maple that I cabled... That was fairly stupid! It was just to get the hanger/lead out. The rope cable was installed to hold the peice if it were to fail, it did a great job of that!

JasonRoland · Feb 16, 2016

A safe decision is not a bad decision.
If you rolled up to the job and it was more windy than your comfort level, that's an excellent day to be doing something else ( like studying).
The town I used to live in is there because of the wind (Weed, CA) and I have climbed in some decent wind. As far as I know there's not really a hard rule about how much is too much, but when you make a decision to cut something and it doesn't go as planned due to wind, it will definitely make you respect the wind. But it sounds like you already have a feel for it with the call you made.

treehumper · Feb 16, 2016

Like so much of what we do, it depends on multiple factors. A couple of days ago winds were 20-30 mph and temps ranged from 15-22ºF. In those conditions we opted out. the risk of injury is higher and productivity is low. Add 20º to that and it's not as big a deal except now it'll depend on drop zone and potential targets . Is that piece going to sail and where to? How much control will I have and do the added forces create an unpredictable situation? Wind direction can play a factor. If it's going to increase the likelihood of something being blown into a target then nope. Emergency work needs to be a true emergency to give validity to putting your life on the line. There may be real limits based on engineering specs such as with cranes and buckets. It it says do not operate in winds exceeding x mph then don't.