November Wind Storms in Northeast Ohio: How to Spot Roof Wind Damage and What to Do Next

When people talk about Cleveland winters, they usually mean snow. But for roofs, some of the most damaging weather of the year shows up earlier: the strong November wind storms that roll across the Great Lakes. Deep low-pressure systems pull cold fronts across northern Ohio this time of year, and the gusts that follow can loosen, crease, or tear off shingles in a single afternoon.

If you own a home or commercial building in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, or Lake County, here's what to look for after a big wind event, what to do right away, and how to get your roof checked before the snow covers up the problem.

Strong enough to damage roofs, and more often than many homeowners realize. A few examples from National Weather Service Cleveland event summaries:

• November 24, 2014: A strong cold front brought gusts of 50 to 65 mph behind it for hours. Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the Lorain County Airport both recorded 64 mph gusts, semi-trucks were blown over, and trees and power lines came down in nearly every county.
• November 15, 2020: Gusts of 60 mph or more were common across the region, with a peak of 79 mph at the Lorain Harbor Lighthouse. Damage to trees, power poles, and roofs was widespread, and more than 150,000 people lost power.

For reference, the NWS Cleveland office issues a Wind Advisory for gusts of 46 to 57 mph and a High Wind Warning for sustained winds of 40 mph or more or gusts of 58 mph or more. If you hear either one in the forecast, it's worth taking a look at your roof once the storm passes.

Wind doesn't just push on a roof. As it moves over the roof, it creates uplift, which tries to pull shingles up and away from the deck. The most vulnerable spots are the edges: eaves, rakes, ridges, and corners. Once one shingle lifts and breaks its seal, the next gust can get underneath and peel back more.

Shingles that are older, brittle, or never fully sealed are the first to go. That's one reason fall installations need extra care in Northeast Ohio. Owens Corning's own warranty notes that shingle sealant needs several days of direct warm sunlight to seal properly, and shingles installed in cool weather may not seal until temperatures rise. A good installer accounts for that with proper starter strips, correct nailing, and hand-sealing where it's needed.

Please don't climb onto your roof after a storm. Wet or frosty shingles are slippery, and damaged areas can be weaker than they look. Walk around your property and look for:

1. 1Missing shingles or bare spots. Dark patches, exposed underlayment, or visible roof deck are clear signs that shingles blew off.
2. 2Shingles in the yard or driveway. Pieces of shingle, ridge cap, or flashing on the ground usually came from your roof or a neighbor's.
3. 3Lifted or creased shingles. A shingle that was folded back by wind often shows a horizontal crease line across it, even if it laid back down. Creased shingles have lost their seal and can blow off in the next storm.
4. 4Damaged ridge caps. The peak of the roof takes the full force of the wind. Look for cracked, missing, or crooked ridge shingles.
5. 5Loose or bent flashing. Check around chimneys, walls, and vents for metal that's pulled away or bent.
6. 6Gutter and drip edge damage. Sagging gutters, bent drip edge, or lots of shingle granules in the downspouts can all point to wind and debris impact.
7. 7Fallen limbs. Any branch that hit the roof can crack shingles or puncture the deck, even if the damage looks minor from below.

Inside, check your attic and top-floor ceilings for water stains, damp insulation, or daylight coming through the roof boards.

1. 1Stay safe. Keep away from downed power lines and leave anything on the roof to a professional.
2. 2Document everything. Take date-stamped photos of damaged areas, debris in the yard, and any interior leaks. Keep pieces of shingles that blew off.
3. 3Prevent more damage. If water is coming in, move belongings, put down buckets, and call a roofer about an emergency tarp. Most insurance policies expect you to take reasonable steps to limit further damage.
4. 4Get a professional inspection. Lifted and creased shingles are easy to miss from the ground. An inspection tells you exactly what was damaged and whether it's a repair or a bigger issue.
5. 5Contact your insurance company if the damage is significant. Wind damage is often covered by homeowners policies, but every policy is different. Our guide to roof insurance claims walks through the process step by step.

Flat and low-slope commercial roofs see wind damage differently. Watch for membrane seams that have pulled open, loose perimeter metal or coping, displaced rooftop equipment, and debris that could puncture TPO or EPDM. A small opening at the roof edge can let wind get under the membrane and make the problem much larger in the next storm. As an Elevate (formerly Firestone) Licensed Applicator and Carlisle authorized applicator, Pring Roofing inspects and repairs commercial single-ply roofs across Northeast Ohio.

A few loose shingles might not seem urgent, but in Northeast Ohio they turn into bigger problems fast. Openings let in melting snow and ice-dam backup, creased shingles keep blowing off in each new storm, and once snow covers the roof, damage is hard to see until it shows up on your ceiling. Getting repairs done in late fall, while you still can, protects your roof for the whole winter.

If you're planning a replacement anyway, ask about wind-rated shingles. Ohio's residential code requires asphalt shingles to be tested and labeled for wind resistance (ASTM D7158 or D3161), and as an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, we install shingles like the Owens Corning Duration Series, which carries a 130 mph wind-resistance limited warranty when installed with the required Owens Corning starter shingles along the eaves and rakes.

Pring Roofing has been protecting Northeast Ohio homes and businesses since 1936. We're fully insured, hold a BBB A+ rating, and offer free quotes and inspections in Cleveland, Lakewood, Parma, Strongsville, Westlake, Elyria, Lorain, Medina, Mentor, and the surrounding communities in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, and Lake counties.

We're available 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week. Call 216-941-6298 or email contact@pringroofing.com to schedule your free inspection.