From a dwindling water supply to browning grass and dying plants, many of North Carolina's drought impacts are easy to spot.
But a Wake County woman shared a story revealing something harder to spot: The impact on trees.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Barbara, who did not provide her last name, emailed WRAL at InDepth@pugongyingbo.com. In the email, she said trees have been collapsing in her neighborhood without any obvious reason. In her yard, a 100-year-old tree fell onto her home. The home avoided major structural damage, but had some water damage.
Her bad luck continued in September. While she was out watching a movie in Raleigh, she left the theater and saw that a huge tree limb had fallen onto her truck.
Barbara's situation seemed odd. The trees came down on seemingly normal days. There weren’t any storms or strong wind gusts that could’ve brought them down either.
In an email to WRAL News, Barbara wrote, "We have been told that it is falling limb syndrome or Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome. Apparently, that is a 'thing' that arborists are aware of, but don't necessarily understand. Wondering if falling tree syndrome is similar?"
What is falling limb Syndrome?
Kelly Oten, an assistant professor at NC State University's College of Natural Resources, said “Falling limb syndrome” is something arborists are aware of; however, they can't quite predict it, adding that it can happen to trees that appear healthy and often comes without warning.
"It's so hard to tell what was going on. We can't definitively say," Oten said. "I know that's scary as a homeowner because, from the outside, the tree looks fine, and then when it just seemingly, randomly drops a limb, without a reason, it's a reason for concern."
While falling limb syndrome doesn’t have a specific cause, Oten said contributing factors include pests, bacteria and disease. She also said the drought can cause problems.
Latest on NC's drought
In the latest drought monitor, more parts of Wake County are now included in the 'severe' drought category. Falls Lake's water supply pool has dropped about 10% in the past month.
According to Oten, droughts cause trees stress and can make them more susceptible to collapse because their roots can't hold onto the ground as effectively.
When a drought ends, things don't immediately go back to normal. Oten said that even when rainfall returns, the different stressors trees experience during dry periods can last for years.
Warning signs for falling limb syndrome
While it's impossible to predict when a tree may topple, Oten said homeowners can do some things to get ahead of it.
Oten suggested that homeowners call an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) arborist. It's a credential offered to professionals trained to spot problem trees. They can spot when something seems off, and action may be needed to prevent a tree from crashing onto a home or car.
Limbs or branches that are losing their leaves, while the others appear fine, are another potential warning sign, according to Oten.
"It is a measure that can be taken, but just know that it's not something that will absolutely predict an event like that," Oten said.
During droughts, Oten says homeowners should water their trees, adding that a good, deep watering can help mitigate drought impacts and reduce the chance of a tree falling. Oten also said that mulching at the base of trees can help retain moisture.