Wind Damage vs. Hail Damage: How to Tell What Hit Your Roof
After a storm, most homeowners ask one question: did it hail? In Louisville this year, that's often the wrong question.
The National Weather Service's Louisville office logged 185 damaging-wind reports across Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham and Southern Indiana in 2026, on 23 separate storm days. The strongest measured gust was 73 mph in Mount Washington in March. Hail was rare: just two reports in the metro all year. If you've been waiting for a hailstorm before checking your roof, wind may already have done the damage.
Wind and hail leave different marks. Here's how to tell them apart.
What wind damage looks like
Wind works on edges. It gets under the bottom of a shingle, lifts it, and either tears it off or breaks the seal that holds it flat.
Missing shingles, often near the ridge, the corners and the edges of the roof, where wind pressure is highest.
Creased shingles. A shingle that lifted and folded back leaves a straight horizontal crease across it. It may lie flat again afterward, but it's no longer sealed, and the next storm takes it.
Shingles or pieces in the yard, gutters, or driveway.
Lifted or bent flashing around chimneys, vents and walls.
Exposed nail heads or underlayment where a tab is missing.
Damage on one side of the house, usually the side the storm came from.
What hail damage looks like
Hail works on the surface. It hits straight down and leaves impact marks scattered across the roof.
Dark spots or bruises where the granules were knocked off, often round.
Dents in metal: gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing and the tops of air conditioners.
A random pattern across the whole slope, not concentrated at the edges.
Granules in the downspouts, more than the usual trickle.
Why it matters which one you have
Both can lead to leaks. Wind damage usually shows up faster. A lifted shingle lets water in at the next heavy rain, and freeze-thaw nights in winter widen the gap. Hail bruising can take longer to turn into a leak, but it shortens the life of the shingle.
It also matters for insurance. Your policy, deductible and the date of the storm all come into it, so write down the date you noticed the damage and take photos before anything is repaired. If the damage is storm-related, we photograph every slope and document what we find. You decide whether to file a claim, and you deal with your insurer. We can meet the adjuster on site if you'd like. See how insurance claims work.
What you can check from the ground
Stay off the roof. A pair of binoculars and a walk around the house will tell you a lot:
Look for gaps, shingles that look a different color, or pieces sticking up along the edges and ridge.
Check the yard, flower beds and gutters for shingle pieces.
Look at the metal: dents in gutters and downspouts point to hail.
Check the downspout outlets for a pile of granules.
Inside, look at ceilings and the attic for new stains, especially after the next rain.
When to get an inspection
Get one if you find any of the above, or if a strong storm came through and you haven't looked since. Wind damage is easy to miss from the ground, and a lifted but unbroken shingle is almost invisible until it leaks.
A free roof inspection covers every slope, the flashing, the vents and the attic where we can reach it. You get photos of what we find and a written estimate if anything needs work. Learn more about wind damage repair and hail damage repair.
Common questions
Can a roof have wind damage with no shingles missing?
Yes. A shingle can lift, crease and fall back into place. It looks fine from the ground, but the seal is broken and it's likely to blow off or leak in the next storm.
How strong does wind need to be to damage a roof?
It depends on the roof's age and condition. Older or poorly sealed shingles can lift in gusts that a newer roof handles fine. Several 2026 storms in the Louisville area produced measured gusts over 60 mph.
Does hail always damage a roof?
No. Small hail often doesn't. Larger hail, and roofs that are already old, are more likely to show bruising and granule loss.
Should I wait for the next storm before getting an inspection?
No. Small wind damage gets worse with every rain and every freeze. Catching it early usually means a smaller repair.
Get a free storm damage inspection
3 Peaks Roofing is locally owned and inspects roofs across Louisville, Jefferson and Bullitt counties, La Grange and Southern Indiana. Call 502-864-7663 (Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 5 PM) or request a free inspection.
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