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As Temperatures Rise, More Branches Fall

Darren and Brad
/
Flickr, Creative Commons

As temperatures heat up this week you’ll want to watch out for something that might be a little surprising – falling tree limbs.

The phenomenon is called “sudden limb drop.” Although it probably goes unnoticed by many, Dan Efseaff, Park and Natural Resource manager for Chico’s Public Works Department, said it actually happens in Chico every year.

“We get these really warm days, low wind conditions and we’ll have an uptick in live branches that will suddenly drop,” he said.

According to Efseaff, his department has received a lot of calls about sudden limb drop this July. Partly because the drought has created a lot of dead branches, he said.

As temperatures continue to rise this week, Chico residents should exercise caution when standing or parking under trees. Efseaff says before you go to enjoy a tree’s shade it’s a good idea to unplug sound blocking headphones and even more importantly it’s a good idea to look up.

“You might be able to notice some things that will make you want to sit elsewhere,” Efseaff said.  

Effseaff said private tree owners with trees experiencing sudden limb drop are advised to call an arborist. Citizens who see broken tree branches in Bidwell Park or around any other city trees are asked to report the incidents to Chico’s Public Works Department by phone at 530-896-7800.