Minnesota gets an average of 46 tornadoes each year. The most extreme of all local weather events, a tornado is an immense force of nature that can unleash devastating damage on all buildings in its path. Whipping up wind speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, tornadoes and the debris they throw around can damage the roofs of homes well outside of their direct path.

If you’ve recently had a tornado come tearing through your area in Minnesota, it’s a good idea to inspect your roof for signs of damage. Continue reading to learn about some of the common signs of structural damage inflicted by tornadoes.

10 Common Signs of Roof Damage from a Tornado

  1. Missing Shingles: The most obvious sign of roof damage resulting from a tornado will be roof shingles that have been stripped away. The powerful winds produced by a tornado can easily loosen or rip off roof shingles, even miles away from the actual tornado.
  2. Detached Gutters: The high-force winds of a tornado are strong enough to pull gutters loose from your roof. Inspect your gutters in the aftermath of a tornado to see if they have been detached by the power of the storm.
  3. Bent Soffits or Fascia: After a tornado, you may notice that your  roof’s soffits or fascia boards have been bent out of shape by powerful winds. In some cases, the fascia or soffits may even be completely detached from your roof by a tornado.
  4. Large Debris on Roof: Tornadoes send all manner of debris flying, including everything from broken tree branches to detached street signs. If you see any of this large debris on your roof after a tornado, there’s a high chance that impact damage has occurred.
  5. Sagging Roofline: Beyond ripping off shingles, sometimes tornadoes can cause more severe structural damage to your roof’s trusses, rafters, and ridge beams. When these crucial roof structures take damage, you may be able to see your roofline sagging.
  6. Cracks in Ceiling: Severe structural damage to a roof during a tornado can extend down into the home below. Cracks appearing in the ceiling, particularly near ceiling corners or along seams, are indicative of roof damage from a tornado.
  7. New Leaks: When tornadoes damage roofs, they create new openings through which water intrusion can occur. If you notice leaks in the attic or ceiling after a tornado, this is a clear sign that there is structural damage in urgent need of repair.
  8. Sticking Doors or Windows: When windows and doors stick as you attempt to open them, it’s often a sign that the frame of the roof has shifted. The power of a tornado can cause this shift in a roof’s frame, requiring repairs to prevent further structural damage to your home.
  9. Cracks in Rafters or Trusses: After a tornado has passed, look inside your attic for signs of structural damage to roof trusses and rafters. This damage often appears in the form of cracks along joints.
  10. Missing Flashing or Gaps Around Chimney: If your home has a chimney, check to make sure the flashing is still attached and there are no gaps between the chimney and the surrounding roof. Missing flashing or gaps around the chimney indicate that the roof frame shifted around during the tornado.

What to Do If a Tornado Damages Your Roof

The first thing to do after a tornado has passed through your Twin Cities community is to inspect your roof for damage – but be sure to exercise caution. If your roof has been damaged by the tornado, it may be unsafe to climb up on it, so it’s best to start by inspecting from ground level. Depending on the severity of the damage, it may be apparent at a glance or you may need a closer look from someone who knows what they’re looking for.

To determine if any severe structural damage has occurred, you’ll need to schedule a storm damage inspection with a local roofing contractor in the Twin Cities. This inspection can uncover hidden damage to your roof that occurred during a tornado. Your professional roof inspector can advise you on next steps to take to have the damage restored.

Experienced Storm Damage Roof Restoration Team in the Twin Cities

Are you in need of roof repair services after a tornado in your area? Contact Arko Exteriors today to schedule storm damage restoration services for your home in the Twin Cities metro area!