Storm Roof Risk: Will the Wind Damage Your Roof This Week?

What wind speed damages a roof?

Gusts, not average wind speed, are what lift tiles. A gust is a short burst of wind well above the average, and it is the gusts that this forecast reports. As a rough guide:

Peak gust	Risk	What it can do to a roof
Under 40 mph	Low	Normal conditions. No particular risk to a roof in good repair.
40 to 49 mph	Watch	Tiles that are already loose, old ridge mortar and TV aerials can move.
50 to 59 mph	High	Lifts loose tiles, ridge tiles and lead flashing. Chimney pots can come down.
60 mph and over	Severe	Can damage roofs in good repair, strip sections of tiles and bring down weak chimney stacks.

Exposure matters as much as the number. Houses on hilltops, at the end of a terrace, or facing open ground take the full force of the wind, while sheltered streets may see much less.

How to check your roof for wind damage after a storm

Do these checks from the ground, from an upstairs window and from inside the loft. Never climb onto a roof after a storm.

• Tiles and slates: look for gaps, tiles that sit out of line, and broken pieces in the garden or the gutter.
• Ridge and verge: check that the ridge tiles along the top and the tiles along the gable edges are all in place and in line.
• Lead flashing: look for lead that has lifted or peeled away around the chimney, walls and roof windows.
• Chimney: check for missing or leaning pots, loose bricks and a leaning aerial.
• Gutters: look for sections that have pulled away from the fascia or sag.
• Flat roofs: look for lifted edges, flapping felt and torn covering.
• In the loft: look for daylight, wet patches on the underlay and damp insulation.

If you find damage, photograph it and get the roof made watertight quickly. Our 24-hour emergency roofing service covers Croydon, Bromley and Surrey, and our roof repair service handles the permanent fix. For damage to the stack, see our chimney repairs. If water is already coming in, our roof leak finder helps you narrow down where from.

Getting your roof ready before a storm

• Fix slipped or missing tiles now. One loose tile lets the wind get under its neighbours, and a small repair turns into a large one.
• Check the ridge and verge. Cracked mortar is the most common weak point in high winds. Dry ridge and dry verge systems are fixed mechanically and hold far better.
• Clear gutters and valleys. Storms usually bring heavy rain as well as wind, and blocked gutters overflow into the house. Our guttering service can clear and repair them.
• Secure loose items. Garden furniture, trampolines and bins can be thrown against roofs and windows.

Our autumn roof checklist covers ten checks to do before the storm season starts.

Does insurance cover storm damage?

Most buildings insurance covers genuine storm damage, but insurers look closely at whether the storm was the real cause or just exposed a roof that was already failing. Our guide to whether home insurance covers a leaking roof explains what insurers look for and how to make a claim.

Where the forecast comes from

The forecast uses station forecasts from Deutscher Wetterdienst (the German national weather service), published as open data and served by Bright Sky. Each area uses the nearest forecast station, mostly Kenley, London City Airport or Gatwick Airport. Treat the figures as a guide, and check the Met Office weather warnings for official warnings.