Piedmont Storms and Your Roof

Who watches the weather here

The National Weather Service forecast office in Raleigh covers the Piedmont Triad, including Guilford, Randolph, Davidson and Forsyth counties, and issues severe thunderstorm, tornado and winter storm warnings for the area (National Weather Service Raleigh (forecast office for the Triad)). NOAA's Storm Prediction Center publishes the national severe weather outlooks days ahead, and those outlooks are the first sign that a strong storm day may be coming (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). The North Carolina State Climate Office at NC State keeps the long-term records and explains the state's climate patterns (North Carolina State Climate Office at NC State University).

Thunderstorms and straight-line wind

Most roof damage around High Point comes from ordinary-looking summer thunderstorms with strong gusts. Wind pulls hardest at the edges of a roof: the eaves, the rakes and the ridge. Shingles there lose their seal first. Once a tab is loose, each gust flexes it until it creases or tears off.

What to check afterward: shingles in the yard, bare strips along edges and ridges, and creased tabs visible from the ground. Lifted shingles may lie back down and look normal, so a close look is the only way to be sure.

Hail

Hail is less common than wind damage, but a single storm can bruise every slope of a roof. Hailstones knock granules off asphalt shingles and can crack the mat underneath. Damage is easiest to spot on soft metals: dented gutters, downspouts, vent caps and flashing. Piles of granules at downspout outlets after a storm are another clue.

Tropical remnants

When tropical storms move inland, they often lose their strongest winds before reaching the Triad, but bring hours of rain and gusty wind. Long rain events find weak flashing and failing pipe boots that short storms never reach. Saturated ground also makes trees more likely to fall.

Freezing rain and ice

Winter in the Piedmont is mild by northern standards, but freezing rain and sleet show up in many winters. Ice adds weight to limbs, and broken limbs are a common cause of punctured roofs in January and February. Ice can also dam at the eaves, where the roof is coldest, and back water up under shingles. An ice and water barrier at the eaves is the defense.

Building a roof for the next storm

If you are replacing a roof, IBHS's FORTIFIED Home program lists upgrades designed to reduce storm damage: a sealed roof deck so water stays out even if shingles blow off, enhanced nailing, and stronger drip edge and starter details at the edges (IBHS FORTIFIED Home program). Ask which of those are included in an estimate. See roof replacement.

After any storm: a quick routine

1. Walk the yard and look for shingles, granules and limbs.
2. Look at the roof from each side of the house, and from upstairs windows.
3. Check ceilings and the attic for new stains.
4. Take dated photos.
5. Stay off the roof.

Related pages: storm, wind & hail damage, roof repair, roof inspections, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: National Weather Service Raleigh (forecast office for the Triad); NOAA Storm Prediction Center; North Carolina State Climate Office at NC State University; IBHS FORTIFIED Home program.