Santa Ana winds are dry, strong winds that blow from the desert toward the coast and reach the Inland Empire in the cooler months. They lift the windward edges of a roof first: shingle tabs, ridge caps and edge flashing. A check of the edges after a gusty night finds most of the early damage.
Key takeaways
- Santa Ana winds are dry and strong, and they press hardest on the windward edges of a roof.
- Shingle tabs, ridge caps and edge flashing are the first parts to lift, usually at the eave, the rake and the ridge.
- A lifted tab that is sound can be reset, while a brittle one that cracks when lifted must be replaced.
- The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning in February 2022 that covered Fontana, Riverside and San Bernardino.
- A check from the ground after a gusty night shows the most obvious lifts and the debris on the ground.
- A crew should check the roof from its edges, with proper footing and fall protection, and record what it finds.
Why are the edges of a roof the first to be damaged by wind?
Wind pressure is highest at the edges and corners of a roof, where the air is forced up and over the eave and the rake. A lifted edge is the most likely place for the next gust to take more material.
When wind strikes a roof, the air moves fastest where it meets the edge and is pushed upward. The shingle tabs at the eave and the rake are the first to lift, and once one tab lifts, the wind gets under it and pulls harder on the ones next to it.
The dry air of a Santa Ana event matters too. Dry wind draws moisture out of the sealant and the mat of the shingle, so the material is more brittle when the wind arrives. A tab that bends in a damp wind may crack in a dry one, which is why the material is tested before it is reset.
What are Santa Ana winds, and when do they reach the Inland Empire?
Santa Ana winds are strong, dry winds that blow inland from the desert and toward the coast. They reach the Inland Empire in the cooler months, and they can arrive with little warning when a high pressure system sits over the desert.
The winds come down through the mountain passes and across the basins toward the coast. Because the air is dry, these winds can dry out vegetation and the surfaces they pass over, which is part of why a Santa Ana event is watched closely in the region.
The Inland Empire feels these winds on its valley floor and at the foot of its mountains. Fontana, Riverside and San Bernardino were all named in a National Weather Service high wind warning in February 2022, which shows how a single wind event can cover several cities at once.
Which parts of the roof are checked after a Santa Ana event?
After a Santa Ana event a crew checks the windward eave, the rake, the ridge caps, the edge flashing and the gutter brackets. These are the parts the wind acts on first, and they show lift and loosening before the middle of the roof does.
The eave is where the first course of shingles meets the gutter, and a lifted tab there lets water run back under the edge. The rake is the sloping edge at a gable, where wind is strongest on a steep roof. The ridge caps sit at the top of the roof and are fastened with nails that can back out.
A crew also checks the gutter brackets on the windward side and the metal edge flashing where it meets the fascia. A bent or loose piece of flashing lets wind drive rain under the shingles, so the flashing is reset along with the tabs.
| Part | What a lift looks like | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Eave tabs | Tab lifted or creased at the gutter line | Reset if sound, replace if brittle |
| Rake | Edge lifted or nails exposed | Check the nails and reseal |
| Ridge caps | Cap shifted or cracked | Reset and fasten |
| Edge flashing | Bent, or pulled from the fascia | Straighten or replace |
| Gutter brackets | Loose or bent on the windward side | Refasten the run |
What can a homeowner check safely after a gusty night?
From the ground a homeowner can check for missing or displaced shingles, bent flashing, displaced ridge caps and debris in the yard. Do not climb onto the roof, and do not try to lift or reset shingles. Photograph what you see from a safe spot.
Walk around the house and look at the roof edges from a distance. Binoculars help. Note which side of the house took the most wind, and whether any shingle pieces, caps or flashing are on the ground or in the gutter. Take dated photographs, labeled by side.
Check the attic from inside in daylight for daylight through the boards or new stains near the eave. Report what you see to the crew, so it can start at the right place. A short written note with the time of the wind helps the crew and anyone reviewing the roof later.
Keep children and pets away from the yard after a windy night, because loose material can fall from the eave and the ridge. Clear the path to the door and to the side gate before the crew arrives, so the visit can start without delay.
How are lifted shingles repaired after a wind event?
A lifted shingle that has not cracked is lifted gently, checked for its nail and sealed back into place. A shingle that breaks when lifted is replaced with matching material. Ridge caps are reset and fastened, and bent flashing is straightened or replaced.
The repair starts with the material. A crew lifts the tab and checks whether it bends or breaks. Sound material is reset and the nail is checked, since a nail that has backed out lets the tab lift again in the next gust. Brittle material is replaced, and the crew explains which applies.
Ridge caps and flashing are fastened to the same line they sat on before. The crew checks the drip edge at the eave and the rake so that water runs off the roof and does not get under the edge. The work is recorded in a written note with photographs.
What does a homeowner do to prepare for the next wind season?
Check the edges, the ridge caps and the flashing before the wind season, and again after a strong event. Clear the gutters, trim trees and keep loose items away from the roof. Early attention keeps a small lift from becoming a large repair.
A short check in the autumn, before the Santa Ana season, shows which tabs or caps are already lifting. A crew can reset them on a calm day, when the sealant bonds properly and the work is safer than it is in a gust.
Trees near the roof can drop limbs in strong wind, and a branch that strikes an edge can bend flashing or crack a cap. Keeping limbs clear of the roof reduces that risk. A roof maintenance plan can set the dates for these checks so they are not missed.
What affects the cost of a wind repair?
The scope of a wind repair depends on how many tabs and caps are lifted, whether the shingles still bend, the state of the flashing and the access to the edges. The price is explained and approved before work starts, and no figure is printed here.
A repair that resets sound tabs is short compared with one that replaces brittle shingles along a whole eave. The crew tests the material before it decides, and it shows the homeowner the lifted areas and the reason for the choice.
Access to the edges matters on a steep or high roof. A crew that needs scaffolding or a harness to reach the rake will plan the time and the safety equipment, and the quote reflects that in its written scope.
What should a homeowner keep on file after a wind event?
Keep dated photographs, a short written note of the time and direction of the wind, the crew's written findings and any receipts for temporary work. These records are useful for the homeowner's own files and for any discussion with an insurer.
Photographs are most useful when they are dated and labeled by side of the house. Take one wide shot of each side and one close shot of any lifted or missing material, from a safe position on the ground. Keep the originals on a phone or a camera and copy them to a second place.
The written note should say when the wind began and ended, which side of the house it struck and what was seen from the ground. The crew's findings go into the same file. Whether a policy responds to any of this is for the insurer and the policy to decide, and the California Department of Insurance is the complaint route for a dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Are Santa Ana winds the same as other windstorms?
Santa Ana winds are strong, dry winds that blow from the desert toward the coast. Other windstorms can do similar damage to the edges of a roof. What distinguishes a Santa Ana event is its dryness and its season, and a crew checks the edges the same way after any strong wind.
Why did the wind lift my roof but not my neighbor's?
The age and the condition of the covering, the nails and the sealant, and the pitch of the roof all change how a roof responds to wind. An older or drier roof is more likely to crack along the lift line than one in good condition.
Should I tape a lifted shingle myself?
Taping a lifted shingle from the ground is not reliable, and climbing onto a windy roof is not safe. If water is coming in, protect the room below and call a crew. A crew can make the edge safe with the right equipment.
Does a wind event always mean an insurance claim?
Not every wind event leads to a claim, and whether a policy responds to any damage is for the insurer and the policy to decide. A dated written record of the damage is useful either way, and the California Department of Insurance is the complaint route for a dispute.
How soon should I call a crew after a windy night?
Call as soon as you see a lifted edge, water coming in or a ridge cap that could blow away. No arrival time is promised, and the crew explains what it can make safe on the call. A tarp may be needed while the repair is planned.
What should I ask a crew about its license?
Ask for the contractor license number and the C-39 roofing classification, and check the number with the Contractors State License Board. Ask for a current workers' compensation certificate for the company that attends before work starts.
Can a crew work during a wind event?
No. A crew stops work when wind makes the roof unsafe to stand on, and it resumes when conditions allow. This is why the schedule is not fixed in advance, and why a crew that waits for calm weather is following a safe practice.
This guide is general information for San Bernardino County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.