Ever see a tree come down like this?

[Mike Corazzi]

Neighbor's tree. We had wind and rain and it went over. I haven't seen one snap roots like this.

Usually, there's a wad of dirt in some ripped up roots. This one just snapped off apparently at the root base.

 

[rorror]

I have seen this, with tree's in amsterdam.
Here is an articel: https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/41549325/zeer-uitzonderlijke-situatie-in-amsterdam

 

[Cajunrider]

I have only seen a handful like this. Usually it happens when there hasn't been much rain yet and the ground is still solid when a very stiff wind hits it. Once the ground is softened by rain this never happens.

 

[penumbra]

I have seen several snap at a graft even after growing 10 and 15 years. I have also seen wind shears do this to perfectly healthy seed grown trees like white pine.

 

[Jzack605]

There's a variety of root bound diseases broadly known as root rot that can cause this (armillaria, phytophothora, ect.), roots dying due to being too wet or too dry or compaction creating a breaking point.

Trees can sometimes seem completely healthy above at first glance, when there's a lot more going on below the surace.