Here in mid-Missouri, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and high winds can tear shingles off your roof and can also harm shingles or metal roofing with falling tree branches. So even though you don’t get a torrential downpour or hail, wind damage by itself can do enough harm to necessitate repairs or even replacement. Following any serious weather event like a thunderstorm, hail storm or tornado, you’ll want to immediately check the condition of your roof. The same is true following an ice storm.
Remember that any major thunderstorm will have what’s called a “straight-line” wind burst that can go as high as 50-60 mph. This is the range where you will start getting wind damage to shingles as well as destruction from trees and limbs blowing down, fallen power lines, and debris from other nearby buildings.
Once the storm is over and it’s safe to do so, view your roof from ground level to assess whether there is damage from wind, falling debris, or hail. Be sure to document anything you see that looks like a problem and contact a reliable contractor to perform a thorough inspection. If there is damage, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible.