It becomes infectious during the rainy season. Birds fussing on the infected fronds take the fungus to other palms, and it washes down to the vital bud tissue. Early symptoms are yellowing then browning of the new foliage shoots, usually accompanied by an odorous rot. The remaining fronds subsequently die. Lightning is a threat to tall palms.
Symptoms are usually dramatic.
Within a day or two all fronds noticeably droop and the foliage becomes a gray-green, later turning brown and eventually dying. Palms struck by lightning seldom recover. Even the shock of a nearby bolt can be a damaging setback. Weeds always become a problem following the rains, and expect some to be pollen producers. If you allow them to go to seed, expect more weeds in future years by a hundredfold.