Storm season in the Great Plains runs roughly April through September, with the highest-risk period concentrated in May and June. Homeowners who take 2-3 hours to prepare before the season starts are far better positioned to avoid emergency repairs, insurance disputes, and the weeks-long wait times that follow major storm events when every roofer in the metro is booked solid. Here's what to check.
Clean Your Gutters Before the First Storm
Clogged gutters are a force multiplier for roof damage. During a storm, backed-up gutters overflow against the fascia, send water behind siding, and — in severe cases — pull away from the structure under the combined weight of water and accumulated debris. Before storm season, clean all gutters and flush the downspouts to confirm they're flowing freely.
While you're cleaning, look for:
- Sections that have pulled away from the fascia (a sign of failed hangers or rotted wood behind them)
- Visible rust or holes in the gutter material
- Downspouts that discharge toward the foundation rather than away from it — every downspout should discharge at least 4-6 feet from the structure
If you find problems during cleaning, scheduling a gutter repair before storm season is far easier than doing it after a storm has caused secondary damage.
Trim Trees Near the Roofline
Overhanging branches are both a direct and indirect roof hazard. Directly: a single large limb from a storm-weakened tree can puncture a roof deck, break through ridgeline framing, or strip off entire shingle sections on impact. Indirectly: branches that rest on or brush against shingles abrade the granule surface with every wind movement, creating accelerated wear zones that fail years earlier than the surrounding roof.
Cut back any branches that overhang the roof by at least 6 feet. For large trees where significant limb removal is needed, hire a certified arborist — improper cuts on large branches create structural instability and new hazard points. Alert your insurance company if there are large trees within fall distance of the structure; this documentation matters if a claim is ever filed.
Inspect Flashing at Every Penetration
Roof flashings — the metal strips that seal the junction between the roof surface and any penetration (chimney, pipe, skylight, dormer) — are statistically the most common source of storm-related leaks. They expand and contract with temperature, the sealant around them cures and cracks over time, and wind-driven rain exploits even a hairline gap.
From the ground or from the attic, look for:
- Chimney flashing that has lifted from the mortar joint, separated from the counterflashing, or shows visible rust
- Pipe boot flashings where the rubber collar has cracked, torn, or pulled away from the pipe — this is extremely common on boots more than 10 years old
- Skylight perimeter where the flashing laps may have separated or where caulk has failed at corners
Any of these that look compromised should be addressed before the first heavy rain. A $150 flashing repair prevents a $3,000 interior damage event.
Document Your Roof's Condition Before Storm Season
Photograph your roof from the ground before storm season every year. Use a consistent vantage point and note the date. This documentation serves two purposes: it establishes pre-storm condition if you ever need to file an insurance claim after a weather event, and it lets you compare year-over-year to track how quickly your shingles are aging.
Document These Specifically
- The full roof field from each side of the structure
- All flashing locations (chimney, pipe boots, valleys)
- Any existing damage or repairs you're aware of
- Gutter condition (full and partially full before cleaning)
Store photos in a cloud folder named by date. If a neighbor's claim is disputed because they can't prove pre-storm condition, this 20-minute task could be worth thousands of dollars to you.
Schedule a Professional Inspection Every 3-5 Years
A homeowner visual inspection from the ground catches obvious problems. A licensed roofer walking the roof surface finds what you can't see — shingles where the seal strip has broken down but the shingle is still lying flat, flashings that look correct but are improperly sealed at the back, ridge cap shingles with hairline cracks that haven't yet opened enough to leak.
For roofs 15 years or older, annual inspections before storm season are worth the cost. For newer roofs in good condition, every 3-5 years is adequate. The inspection cost is a fraction of what emergency repairs run in the weeks following a major storm event.
Learn more about our roof repair and maintenance services — we offer pre-season inspections with written condition reports so you know exactly where you stand going into storm season.