One of the biggest concerns for those tasked with protecting their roof and property is severe weather, and hurricanes are blamed for some of the most significant annual damage. While hurricanes are often associated with Florida, these monster storms affect a wide swath of states every year, from Texas to Louisiana, Georgia, and the Carolinas—even as far north as Tennessee. With hurricane season just around the corner, it’s time to discuss the potential threat.

Hurricanes are known for catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, and flooding. Even if you are not in the path of a storm, the residual weather can cause severe damage to your building, especially the roof.

Hurricane Information You Need

Hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through November 30. Weather experts predict that 2024 hurricane activity will be more turbulent and unpredictable than usual. This ominous outlook is based on two primary climate factors: water temperature and El Niño/La Niña conditions.

Water Temperatures: Most hurricanes form when waters in the Atlantic warm to at least 80 degrees, which typically happens somewhere between the dates designated for hurricane season. When other factors are stable and as expected, the potential of a strong hurricane grows exponentially when deep ocean water begins to warm up. In March 2024, a University of Miami scientist revealed that North Atlantic water temperatures had reached record levels of warmth for the spring season. The region of the ocean between the Lesser Antilles and West Africa, important as it represents where most dangerous hurricanes begin to form, indicated April heat content levels that were more in line with what is expected in July.

El Niño/La Niña Conditions: El Niño conditions are known to produce wind shear that can break up major storms. El Niño has been the prevalent scenario in recent years but is currently dissipating and ceding to La Niña conditions. La Niña Atlantic hurricane seasons are recognized by unstable air that rises and facilitates the thunderstorms that are considered the beginning stage of tropical storms and hurricanes. While El Niño acts to break up and mitigate storms during hurricane season, La Niña can agitate the atmosphere and result in more storms.

What Does the Forecast Mean?

These conditions tend to generate additional storms and hurricanes, all of which present a significant threat all across the southeastern United States. In 2023, experts warned of record-warm Atlantic Ocean water, and we experienced 20 significant tropical storms and seven hurricanes. Three of those hurricanes reached at least Category 3 intensity readings, even with the tamping effect of El Niño conditions. Thankfully, the majority of these storms and hurricanes veered away from the mainland United States, with the obvious exception of Hurricane Idalia.

Although climate and weather professionals can make predictions based on indicators, these outlooks cannot know for sure where a named storm will land. For instance, in 2010, La Niña weather conditions generated 19 storms, 12 hurricanes, and five Category 3-plus hurricanes – but every hurricane passed the United States mainland without landfall.

Threats to Your Roof

Hurricanes can pose many threats to your roof – including water damage, water intrusion and damage to the roofing system. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of sustaining hurricane or storm damage this year.

Inspect the roof regularly and repair any minor issues you find
Keep the roof clear of debris
Make sure that drains and gutters are kept free of leaves and debris
Seal any cracks and breaches in your roofing systems

Applying a roof coating is a fantastic way to protect your roof, prevent ponding and reduce the potential for water leaks. To learn more about proactively protecting your roof for hurricane season, call Unicoat Industrial Roofing today.