When Is Storm Season in Kansas City?
Kansas City's severe weather comes mostly in spring and summer, when hail, high winds and severe thunderstorms are most likely, though storms can come at other times of year too.
Warm, moist air from the south meeting cooler air from the north makes the Kansas City region an active place for severe weather. For homeowners, this means your roof takes a beating year after year.
Pre-Storm Preparation Checklist
The best time to prepare for storm damage is before the storm hits. Here is what every KC homeowner should do before April:
- Schedule a professional roof inspection to identify existing weaknesses before storms exploit them
- Clean your gutters and downspouts so water drains properly during heavy rain
- Trim overhanging tree branches that could fall on your roof during high winds
- Check your attic for signs of existing leaks, daylight through the decking, or inadequate ventilation
- Review your homeowners insurance policy to understand your deductible, your coverage, and how long you have to report damage
- Document your roof's current condition with dated photos from multiple angles. This gives you a record of how it looked before a storm.
- Secure or store loose outdoor items that could become projectiles in high winds
What to Do During a Severe Storm
When severe weather hits Kansas City, your priority is personal safety, not your roof:
- Move to an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows
- Monitor local weather alerts via the NOAA Weather Radio or a weather app
- Do NOT go outside to check your roof during the storm
- If you hear hail hitting your roof, note the time and roughly how long it lasted. It is useful to have if you report damage later.
Post-Storm Inspection: What to Check
Once the storm passes and it is safe to go outside, conduct a ground-level inspection. Do not climb on your roof, as wet surfaces and hidden damage make it dangerous.
- Shingles: Look for missing, cracked, or displaced shingles visible from the ground
- Gutters: Check for dents, detachment from the fascia, or accumulation of shingle granules (a key sign of hail damage)
- Siding: Look for cracks, chips, or circular impact marks from hail
- Windows and screens: Check for cracked glass or punctured screens
- Metal surfaces: Inspect AC units, mailboxes, vents, and flashing for dents. Dents in soft metal show that hail hit your property.
- Vehicles: Hail dents on cars parked outside are another sign of how hard the storm hit
- Landscaping: Shredded leaves, broken branches, and ground-level debris indicate storm intensity
Document everything with dated photos and video. It gives you your own record of the damage.
How to Spot Hail Damage on Your Roof
Hail damage is not always obvious from the ground. Here is what a professional inspector looks for on the roof surface:
- Bruised shingles: The shingle feels soft or spongy when pressed. The granule layer is broken but the shingle may look intact from a distance.
- Granule loss: Circular patterns of missing granules exposing the black asphalt mat beneath. This is a common type of hail damage.
- Cracked shingles: Larger hailstones can crack shingles through to the mat.
- Dented flashing: Metal flashing around chimneys, vents, and valleys dents more easily than shingles and serves as evidence of hail impact.
- Damaged ridge caps: The ridge cap shingles at the peak of your roof are particularly vulnerable to hail impact.
Filing Your Insurance Claim
If you find damage, act quickly but methodically. You file the claim and deal with your insurer; the details depend on your policy.
- Call your insurance company to report the damage and open a claim. Get your claim number.
- Contact a local roofing contractor for a free estimate and a written record of the damage before the adjuster visit. Do not sign anything with door-to-door storm chasers.
- Be home for the adjuster's inspection. Have your own photos and any written damage report from your contractor ready so the adjuster can see all of the damage.
- Review the scope of work carefully. If you think items were missed, ask your insurer how to request a re-inspection.
- Keep all receipts and documentation for temporary repairs, and ask your insurer whether they are covered.
Active Leaks After a Storm
If your roof is leaking after a storm, protect what's inside first: move belongings, catch the water, and photograph the damage. Do not go up on a wet roof. Then have a roofer look at it; you can reach us at (816) 589-8629.
Document the leak damage with photos before and after any temporary repair.
Learn more about our storm damage restoration services or get a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in Missouri?
It depends on your policy, so check it or ask your insurer. Either way, report damage promptly, while it is fresh and easy to document.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a hail damage claim?
It depends on your insurer and your policy. Ask your agent how a weather claim would affect your rates.
What size hail causes roof damage?
It depends on the hail, the wind and the roof. Even fairly small hail can damage older shingles, and larger hail can crack newer ones. Impact-resistant shingles are tested to the UL 2218 standard; the product's data sheet shows its class.
Should I let a storm chaser fix my roof?
We strongly advise against it. Storm chasers are out-of-town contractors who follow severe weather, do the work quickly, and leave. If problems arise later, they are gone. Always choose a local contractor with a permanent business address in the KC metro.