Florida leads the country in lightning strikes, and the Panhandle sees its share of trees hit every summer, often with damage that is not visible from the ground.
A direct strike can blow bark off in a long vertical strip, but internal damage is more common and harder to see, the wood underneath can be cooked or cracked in ways that weaken the trunk for months or years afterward. In some cases the damage stays hidden inside the trunk for months, only showing up once decay sets in along the damaged tissue.
Signs to watch for include sudden leaf browning on one side of the canopy, a long vertical scar in the bark, or sap oozing from a strip along the trunk. A tree that looked fine right after a strike can fail long after the storm is forgotten.
Any tree suspected of a direct or nearby strike is worth having evaluated. Free estimates available across the Panhandle. #LightningDamage #FloridaPanhandle #TreeSafety #FortWaltonBeach #ArboristTips
Authentic job photo preferred: a tree showing visible lightning damage, such as a bark scar or canopy dieback, or an arborist documenting the damage.
Canva text suggestion: "Struck by Lightning? Your Tree May Still Be at Risk" or "Hidden Damage After a Lightning Strike"