Niagara Storm Tree Guide | St. Catharines Storm Damage

The June 17 to 18, 2026 windstorm in Niagara

On the night of June 17 into June 18, 2026, Environment Canada issued a wind statement for Niagara: southwest gusts of 70 to 110 km/h, quarter-size hail, and 50 to 60 mm of rain across an area that was already saturated from earlier rainfall. That combination, high wind plus waterlogged soil, is the primary cause of whole-tree root-plate failures where a healthy-looking tree tips over completely rather than just shedding limbs. Damage to roofs, fences, and trees was expected across the region, and the storm delivered on that across St. Catharines.

This guide uses that storm as its reference event because the facts are real and honestly dated. The advice here applies to any significant windstorm in Niagara, not only this one.

A note on how this guide works

This guide is published by Living Websites, a Niagara-based web-services company. The information here draws on publicly available Ontario insurance guidance, Environment Canada storm data, and general arboriculture knowledge about storm-damaged trees. It is not affiliated with any specific tree-removal company, and it is not advice about your specific insurance policy. Insurance figures are illustrative typical-Ontario ranges drawn from published IBC and provincial consumer sources. Confirm your own coverage with your insurer.

If a tree is on your house, your car, or a utility line right now: get clear, treat every downed line as live, call your hydro provider if a wire is involved, and photograph the damage before anything is moved. The details are in the storm response guide.

Hiring a tree crew after a storm

Confirm the crew is insured before anyone touches your property. Storm-loaded trees near houses and utility lines are the highest-risk corner of the trade, and an uninsured worker injured on your property can become your liability. Ask for proof of WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage and general liability insurance. An ISA Certified Arborist credential means the person cutting has been trained to assess and dismantle compromised trees safely, which matters most when a trunk is half-fallen and under hidden tension.

Get a written, itemized estimate before any cutting starts. This protects you on two fronts: it documents the scope and price so there are no surprise numbers after the dangerous part is done, and it is the document your home insurer will ask for when you file a claim. A reputable crew provides this on site, before the saw runs.

Never attempt to remove a storm-loaded tree yourself, and never go near a downed or sagging utility line. A storm-bent tree stores tension you cannot see from the outside, and a wrong cut releases it violently. If a line is involved, your electricity provider (Alectra or your local hydro utility) must make it safe before any tree work happens. Call the hydro provider first, keep everyone back, and wait.

Storm tree damage in St. Catharines: what to do.

The June 17 to 18, 2026 windstorm in Niagara

A note on how this guide works

This guide keeps itself current.