Tree service in Skagit County, Washington
In Skagit County the storm reports are falling but the ice rating is not: NOAA counted 16 reports in 2023 through 2025 against 38 in the three years before, yet FEMA still rates ice-storm risk Relatively High.
Ranks 23 of 39 Washington counties for wind, ice, snow and storm reports.
72% of reports fall November through February.
FEMA National Risk Index rates ice storm as “Relatively High” here.
+2.7% since 2020 (Census Vintage 2025).
USDA 2023 zone covering most of the county.
Landscaping-services establishments, Census CBP 2023.
Storm records for Skagit County
Skagit’s record has thinned out quickly. After 13 reports in each of 2021 and 2022, NOAA logged 10 in 2023 and then 3 in each of 2024 and 2025. Across the full decade the county has 102 reports, 23rd of Washington’s 39 counties, with heavy snow (70) far ahead of high wind (14), winter weather (10) and winter storms (6).
December (24), January (18) and February (17) lead the calendar, and 72% of the record falls between November and February. NOAA lists no deaths or injuries for the county.
Fewer reports does not mean fewer heavy limbs. Snow and ice still load the big conifers and cottonwoods along the valley floor, so treat the quiet years as time to get planned pruning and removals done before the next cold outbreak.
Reports by month, 2016 to 2026
| Event type | Reports |
|---|---|
| Heavy Snow | 70 |
| High Wind | 14 |
| Winter Weather | 10 |
| Winter Storm | 6 |
| Ice Storm | 1 |
| Wildfire | 1 |
The largest recent episode came on February 1, 2025. Cold air flowing out of interior British Columbia met moisture coming in off the Pacific and produced accumulating snow down to the lowlands of western Washington. NOAA filed three winter-weather reports for the Whatcom and Skagit Cascades and western Skagit County, with no damage figure attached.
NWS forecast zones covering the county: Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties; Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades; Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to June 2026 · NWS zone-county correlation files (2019 to 2026 versions). Checked 2026-10-02. NOAA Storm Events 2016-2026; zone-based events assigned to every county the NWS zone covers using the zone-county correlation file in force on the event date (2019-04-02 file used for 2016-2018).
Hazard ratings
Strong wind: Very LowIce storm: Relatively HighWinter weather: Relatively ModerateWildfire: Very Low
FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates Skagit County Relatively High for ice storms, Relatively Moderate for winter weather, Very Low for strong wind and Very Low for wildfire, Relatively Moderate overall. USDA’s Forest Service places wildfire risk to homes at the 37th percentile in Washington.
The ice rating is the one that matters for trees. Freezing rain coats every twig, and a broad crown can take on far more weight than it does under snow alone. Thinning and end-weight reduction on trees over roofs is the preventive work this county’s profile supports.
Wildfire risk to homes: higher than 37% of Washington counties (USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities).
What to do about wildfire exposure: defensible space in Washington and Oregon.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release · USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities (April 2026 download). Checked 2026-10-02.
Burning the debris
The Northwest Clean Air Agency sets burning rules in Skagit County. Burning is permanently banned in every city, town and urban growth area; outside them, county fire officials issue permits, verbally for small fires and in writing for piles over 4 feet across (NWCAA Section 502). The Washington burning guide explains the details.
Full rules, seasons and alternatives: yard debris burning rules in Washington.
Source: Northwest Clean Air Agency. Checked 2026-10-02.
Power lines and utilities
Skagit County’s electric utilities are not mapped on this site yet, so no outage number or trimming policy is listed here. The utilities page covers who handles trees near primary lines and service drops in Washington, and tree removal near power lines covers why only qualified crews work near a wire.
| Utility | Outage line | Tree trimming requests |
|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound Energy | 1-888-225-5773 (https://www.pse.com/en/contactpse) | request page |
Source: utility vegetation-management pages linked above; WAC 296-24-960 (WA L&I). Checked 2026-10-02.
Cities and towns in Skagit County
The county has 132,975 residents (Census Vintage 2025). Mount Vernon, the largest city at 35,193, requires a permit for some tree removals, so read its page before cutting. Anacortes (18,080), Sedro-Woolley (13,308) and Burlington (11,356) have not been researched yet; ask the city before removing a large tree inside their limits.
| Place | Population | Private-tree permit rule |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | 35,193 | Permit in some cases |
| Anacortes | 18,080 | Ask the city |
| Sedro-Woolley | 13,308 | Ask the city |
| Burlington | 11,356 | Ask the city |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Vintage 2025 and 2020 Census. Checked 2026-10-02. Permit rules from each city’s code; see the city pages.
Labor index
No metro estimate covers Skagit County, so the Washington statewide BLS mean of $32.20 an hour for tree trimmers and pruners stands in. It is a labor index, not a price; the modeled crew-hour range below adds payroll costs, equipment and overhead. Census County Business Patterns counted 88 landscaping-services establishments here in 2023.
Washington statewide: $32.20 per hour mean wage for tree trimmers and pruners (BLS, May 2025); no metro estimate is published, so the statewide figure is shown. This is a labor index, not a price; the modeled crew-hour cost used on this site is $210 (method).
88 landscaping-services establishments were counted in Skagit County in 2023 (Census County Business Patterns, NAICS 561730).
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-3013 · U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 561730. Checked 2026-10-02.
Climate and growing conditions
Most of Skagit falls in USDA zone 8b on the 2023 map, with 8a and 7a in the foothills and mountains. The valley is mild enough for most native and ornamental trees. Given the ice rating, choose species with strong branch unions and plant in fall so roots grow through the wet season.
USDA hardiness zones 7a, 8a, 8b (2023 map, by ZIP code).
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (OSU PRISM ZIP data). Checked 2026-10-02.
Nearby counties
- Whatcom County155 storm reports since 2016
- Snohomish County139 storm reports since 2016
- Island County45 storm reports since 2016
- San Juan County48 storm reports since 2016
- King County133 storm reports since 2016
What to do next
If ice or snow has already brought a tree down, use the fallen tree guide and the Washington storm damage and insurance guide. For planned work, check the Mount Vernon or other city rule, get an assessment, then call. Verify the contractor in the Washington license lookup first.
Services: tree removal · trimming · stump grinding · emergency. Check any company: Washington license lookup.
Major storms that reached Skagit County
These regional storms produced NOAA Storm Events reports in Skagit County since 2016. Each storm page lists the dates, report counts and the other counties hit.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to June 2026, checked 2026-10-02.
- NWS zone-county correlation files (2019 to 2026 versions), checked 2026-10-02.
- FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release, checked 2026-10-02.
- USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities (April 2026 download), checked 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Vintage 2025 and 2020 Census, checked 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 561730, checked 2026-10-02.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (OSU PRISM ZIP data), checked 2026-10-02.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-3013, checked 2026-10-02.
- Northwest Clean Air Agency, checked 2026-10-02.
- Puget Sound Energy vegetation management, checked 2026-10-02.
Comparing quotes? Check these eight things first.
Two quotes for the same tree can differ by thousands. The gap is usually in what's included, not the cutting.
We don't vet or license anyone. These are the official lookups; each takes about a minute.
| What | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon CCB license | CCB license search | Active status, bond, insurance on file, complaints |
| Oregon LCB license | LCB verify a license | Landscape contracting license, which covers tree work |
| Washington contractor registration | L&I Verify | Registration, bond, workers' comp, lawsuits, violations |
| ISA Certified Arborist | ISA directory | Current certification and credential number |
How to read them: Oregon guide · Washington guide
Westcoast-Tree.org is an independent information site. If you call a number on this site, the call goes to a tree service that covers your area and we may be paid a referral fee by that company. We don't perform tree work and we don't vet, license or insure anyone. Cost figures are modeled estimates, not quotes (method). Not affiliated with the former Westcoast Tree Care Inc of Tumwater, WA.