At a glance
- Typical season
- Late fall through spring, with some of the strongest events in winter
- What fails first
- Shingle tabs that never fully sealed, ridge caps, and edges at rakes and eaves
- Hidden risk
- Creased shingles that look flat afterward but no longer shed water well
- First move
- Inspect from the ground with binoculars or a phone zoom, not from a ladder
Why these winds are different
Along the eastern foot of the Rockies, air sometimes pours down the slopes from the west and accelerates as it descends. Residents often call the warm version a chinook, but the gusts can be cold too. What matters for a roof is that the wind is strong, gusty and frequently sustained for hours, so the same shingles get pulled upward over and over.
Asphalt shingles rely on a strip of adhesive that bonds each course to the one beneath it. That bond forms best in warm sun. On a roof installed late in the year, on a shaded north slope, or on shingles that have aged and dried out, the strip may never have bonded completely. When the wind gets under one loose tab, it acts like a lever, and the damage can run sideways across a slope.
Homes on ridges, at the edge of open space, or on the west side of town closer to the mountains tend to take the brunt. Two-story homes with tall gable ends also expose more roof edge to the wind.
Wind damage you can see from the yard
| What you see | What it usually means | How urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles in the yard or street | Pieces have torn off; underlayment or bare deck may be exposed | High: cover before the next precipitation |
| A straight line where tabs look raised | The adhesive bond let go along a course | Moderate: tabs may seal again or may tear on the next gust |
| Ridge caps missing or flipped | The ridge line is open to wind-driven snow | High: ridges leak readily |
| Darker rectangles on a slope | Shingles gone and older felt showing | High |
| Bent drip edge or flashing | Edges peeled; water can get behind the fascia | Moderate |
| Loose vent caps or turbines | Penetrations may be open | High if an opening is visible |
After a big wind day
Wait for the wind to drop
Do not go up a ladder while gusts are still coming through. Loose material on a roof can also be blown off onto people below.
Walk all four sides
Note missing pieces and photograph each slope, including close-ups of debris on the ground with something for scale.
Check the attic with a flashlight
Look for daylight through the deck, wet spots on sheathing, or snow that blew in through a ridge or vent.
Arrange temporary cover if anything is open
Snow often follows wind here. A tarp or temporary patch over an exposed area protects the interior and shows the insurer you acted to limit the loss.
Ask for a hands-on inspection of creased shingles
Creases are easier to judge up close. An inspector can lift tabs gently to check whether the mat is cracked along the fold.
Common questions
Will lifted shingles reseal on their own?
Sometimes, if the tab was only lifted and the weather warms. A tab that was folded hard enough to crease the mat usually will not hold the same way. A close inspection is the only reliable way to tell.
Do I have to report wind damage right away?
Most policies ask for prompt notice. Even if you are unsure the damage is large enough to claim, writing down the date and taking photos protects your options.
General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.