Wind - When is it too much

Magnum783 · Feb 15, 2016

I miss posted this up in general discussion if someone could delete it that would be great.

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.

allmark · Feb 15, 2016

Its hard to give a definitive answer. The species ,condition of the tree, Type of rigging or crane. What is around the landing zone.
I did 2 White Pines the day Irene came in. I normally climb and operate the crane. I chose to have someone else climb(a very skilled climber who I work well with and trust to make decisions from the tree). I did this because if the wind gusts while the cut is being made I was able to move the crane with the wind to prevent side loading. If there was an obstacle in that direction we would not have continued. By the time we started the second tree the wind had picked up and I was at maximum extension so we chose to drop the top in the woods free fall with the climber tied into the crane. Had this been a hardwood with no leaves I would have picked it .

TimBr · Feb 15, 2016

Hey, Magnum783, I'm not a pro arb, but I asked this same question awhile back on the other arb forum. Here's a link to the thread I started.

Tim

http://masterblasterhome.com/showthread.php?18368-How-windy-is-too-windy-to-climb&highlight=wind

TCtreeswinger · Feb 16, 2016

Watched an ash top snap out once in about 40 mph gust. Foreman ran out of gas after notching and was lowering saw when snap crackle pop there she went! I know it doesn't help but something to consider. When winds are heightened and gusty I reconsider climbing. I hate being pulled and dropped when climbing on windy days.

rockettree · Feb 16, 2016

When you can't work efficiently, for whatever reason, call it a day.

Magnum783 · Feb 16, 2016

Hopefully you two are not getting the wind we are getting. These were dead topped spruce trees in a cemetery I wasn't to willing to have one go wrong. As it was one of them blew over this afternoon.

oldoakman · Feb 16, 2016

Just sat through a tornado warning. Sirens went off and we were in the cone. All is well though.

TreelineNH · Feb 16, 2016

Few photos from this summer. I was at a job doing a yard expansion. Decided to call it a day at about 4 because there was a small stormed scheduled to come in. I get a call from the homeowner at 530 telling me a tree fell on my chipper, he had to tell me like 3 times I was in such shock. Especially since it's my most profitable peice of equipment. Got there to find total chaos In the neighborhood. Micro burst.

I got lucky that I wasnt in a tree that afternoon, and learned a good lesson about the power of Mother Nature. Go by my gut now, no need to rush already dangerous work.

Stihlmadd · Feb 16, 2016

Magnum783 said:
What are the thoughts of you the pros did I make bad decision?

right call every time.
after a top barber chairs in front of you when a gust catches it and you have no where to run to and no where to hide or you get caught by the wind and swept away like mary bloody poppins completely around the whole tree you soon learn to respect the power of the wind and the doubling force of wind shear versus foliage (sail).
trust your gut - no fuck it cuts.

Magnum783 · Feb 16, 2016

Stihlmadd said:
right call every time.
after a top barber chairs in front of you when a gust catches it and you have no where to run to and no where to hide or you get caught by the wind and swept away like mary bloody poppins completely around the whole tree you soon learn to respect the power of the wind and the doubling force of wind shear versus foliage (sail).
trust your gut - no fuck it cuts.

True that, I use your line "no fuck it cuts". All the time thanks for sharing.

Stihlmadd · Feb 16, 2016

Magnum783 said:
True that, I use your line "no fuck it cuts".

you are welcome Magnum but that is a direct quote from Reg Coates not my line

Magnum783 · Feb 16, 2016

Well props to Reg and to you for helping its popularity

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!