With all the storms we had this weekend, what do you do if a tree gets hit by lightning? Sometimes it depends on how bad it was but other times like this one there is nothing you can do. Notice in this one how the damage goes from the top all the way to the base and into the root system. It’s basically a death sentence to the tree. The power can be so great that it will blow bark 20-40 feet away from the tree. In the event the lightning strike doesn’t kill the tree, it is now prone to damage from other things like bugs that will surely finish it off. It will typically take up to a year for it to look completely dead and you will need to have it removed. Hope this helps!