The great old willow on my neighbor’s property held up pretty well during Hurricane Sandy. As the 60 mph gusts roared across the pond from the east, the old tree whipped back and forth like a sapling.
Ultimately, though, age and brittleness caught up with it. A great, trunk-like piece broke off at a point about 150 feet above the ground. One can only guess its weight, but I’d say at least 1,000 pounds. It flew in an easterly direction almost as far as it fell. Crossing the road, it crashed down on my neighbor’s front yard, fortunately missing the house and car, but smashing the dog fence and spreading leafy debris everywhere.