Sacramento’s Iconic Tree Canopy Turns Destructive in Storms

By Sophie Austin
The Associated Press in US News
January 11, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

SACRAMENTO, California — On a good day, the elms, pines, oaks and hundreds of other tree varieties fill Sacramento’s parks and line streets, fortifying the city’s reputation as the “City of Trees.” But on a bad one, violent winds knock some of the trees down, causing damage to cars, homes and power lines. That’s what happened in recent weeks as the defining feature that’s normally seen as an asset to the city has given way to destruction and disruption as multiple “ atmospheric rivers ” ripped through Northern California. Wind gusts reached more than 60 miles per hour on Sunday, strong enough to rip massive trees straight up from the root. And as climate change continues to fuel the drought in California, trees are left weakened and more likely to uproot. …More than 1,000 trees have fallen in Sacramento since the New Year’s Eve.

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