The National Christmas Tree at the White House fell over in strong winds on Tuesday, but hopes for a merry tree lighting ceremony this week were saved by a quick-acting crane.
Winds were gusting over 30 mph when the tree on the Ellipse toppled, Storm Team4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said.
One of the tree's support cables broke in a gust, and the tree fell about 1 p.m., the National Park Service (NPS) said.
By sunset, the tree was seen lying on its side, still wrapped in colorful holiday lights.
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Crews used a crane to lift the tree upright again by 6 p.m.
The lighting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday evening, and the NPS said the show will go on as planned. It was not immediately clear if the crane will hold the tree during the event or if the tree is damaged.
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“The National Park Service is currently evaluating the National Christmas Tree, which fell over on Nov. 28 during a strong wind gust this afternoon," an NPS statement said. "As the saying goes, 'the show must go on,' and the NPS and our event partners are looking at all possibilities to ensure a successful event this year. We will provide updates when they become available.”
The tree, a cut 40-foot Norway spruce from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, replaced the previous tree earlier this month, according to the NPS.
That tree, which was planted in 2021, developed a fungal disease that causes needles to turn brown and fall out, according to the NPS.
Since 1973, the NPS had used live planted trees instead of cut trees for the National Christmas Tree. The root balls of planted trees keep them anchored to the ground, while cut trees, which have been removed from their root balls, are much more vulnerable to the wind.
The NPS is considering whether to plant a new National Christmas Tree or to continue using cut trees going forward.
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