Adelaide Storm Season — How to Prepare Your Roof Before Winter and Summer Hail

Adelaide’s two storm windows

Winter rain (Jun–Aug): low-pressure systems off the Southern Ocean bring sustained heavy rain, peak 150–250mm in worst Junes. Roofs fail at gutter overflow and ridge cap leakage. Summer hail (Dec–Feb): thunderstorms with hail, occasional super-cells. Roofs fail at sheet damage, broken tiles, and skylight strikes. The two seasons demand different preparation.

4 weeks before — book the inspection

Schedule a roof inspection in early May (before winter) and again in early November (before summer storm season). The roofer climbs, photographs condition, and identifies weak points. Cost: $250–$450 for a documented inspection, often refunded if remedial work proceeds. Most Adelaide insurance policies require ‘reasonable maintenance’ which is the inspection report.

Pre-winter checklist (May–early June)

Clean gutters and downpipes. Test downpipe discharge (run a hose). Inspect ridge caps for cracks. Check valley irons for rust. Re-seal flue / skylight / penetration sealant if it’s been more than 8 years. Trim any branches within 2m of the roof. Confirm tarp materials and emergency contact numbers are accessible.

Pre-summer-hail checklist (October–November)

Same gutter / downpipe / sealant checks as winter. Add: assess skylight age (older 8mm acrylic is hail-vulnerable; modern 12mm polycarbonate is much better). Photograph current roof condition for insurance claim baseline. Confirm home insurance covers hail damage (most do; some restrict). Confirm excess and waiting period.

Vulnerable points (the storm targets these first)

Ridge caps with failed bedding — wind lifts caps, water enters. Whole-roof rebedding before storm season is the strongest preventative. Lifted Colorbond fasteners — 25+ year roofs may need fastener replacement before another storm. Undersized gutters and overloaded downpipes — overflow during heavy rain; upgrade overflow slots or downpipe count. Aged valley irons — galvanised valleys past 25 years rust through; replace before another season.

Branches and trees

Adelaide gum trees and large oaks are a common source of fallen-branch damage during storms. Trim any branch within 2m of the roof BEFORE storm season. For larger jobs, Tree Fox handles arborist work for the Adelaide market. Trees on the south-west corner of the property catch the most storm wind.

Insurance — confirm before storm

Check your excess for storm/hail damage and what your policy says about maintenance — call your insurer or broker. Take photos of the roof condition NOW for any future claim baseline.

During an active storm — what to do

Stay inside. Don’t go on the roof. If you see active leak: bucket inside, document with photo, call your roofer or RidgeFox for emergency tarping after the wind drops. Don’t drive under or near recently storm-damaged trees.

After a storm — within 24 hours

Walk the perimeter from ground level. Photograph any visible damage. Contact your insurer if damage is suspected (most policies require notification within ‘reasonable time’). Schedule a roof inspection within 5–7 days. Don’t accept door-knocker post-storm pitches — they’re storm-chasers, not local roofers.

Get a free pre-storm inspection

Request a free roof inspection — book before storm season so we can identify and remediate weak points before they fail. See the storm damage service page for emergency response and insurance claim detail.