While 2025 was a relatively calm year for tornadoes in the US, with only 16 counted and zero fatalities according to the National Center for Environmental Information, other recent years haven’t been so kind to those in Tornado Alley and beyond, with 127 twisters recorded in 2024, 127 tornadoes were recorded, and a staggering 232 tornadoes and 89 fatalities in 2021.
With overall trends showing an increase in the number and intensity of tornadoes nationwide, homeowners are increasingly seeking better ways to protect their properties — and choosing impact- and wind-resistant materials, like a metal roof, is essential for providing peace of mind, especially as tornadoes occur in unexpected places like Massachusetts.
The 3 Biggest Roof Hazards in a Tornado
Regardless of whether you live on the Northern Plains or you’re a Texas homeowner, tornadoes pose a triple threat for buildings in their path. When considering roofing requirements, it’s critical to understand the three biggest hazards your home or building can face during a tornado:
High Winds
If you’ve been through a tornado, you know that the high winds generated can be on par with a hurricane. High winds can peel a roof off a home, so you want roofing material that meets standards in high-velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ).
A good example of this requirement is the building code in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Because this area is often an epicenter of hurricanes and severe tropical storms, it has the nation's strictest building codes.
Hail and Wind-Driven Storm Debris
The high winds of a hurricane often send debris flying, including shingles off your home or a neighbor’s property. So having a Class 4 Impact Rating from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is vital. This rating from UL—an independent lab that tests and certifies building and consumer products—has become the industry standard for storm debris, including hailstones that often accompany tornadoes.
To test this rating, steel balls are dropped onto the roofing material from 20 feet above. To earn the Class 4 rating, the roof must not show any signs of fracture, even with steel balls as large as 2 inches in diameter.
Wind-Driven Rain
Heavy rain and high winds are a devastating combination if there are any tiny openings in the roof, either from previous damage or gaps in installation. Seeping rain can damage the roof decking and cause interior leaks and mold growth.
Roofing that can withstand wind-driven rain has passed the TAS-100 third-party test. In this test, the equivalent of 8 inches of rain per hour is applied to a roof. No water should penetrate the roof, including during high winds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
Do Traditional Roofing Materials Stand Up to Twisters?
So, what's the best type of roofing material to protect against tornadoes? Let's look at the most popular traditional roofing types— asphalt shingles, clay tiles, and wood shakes—and how they perform in extreme winds.
Asphalt Shingles
The reduced up-front cost of asphalt shingles comes at a long-term price, especially since metal roofing is easier and more cost-effective to repair or replace after tornado damage, making it a more resilient choice.
What are the signs of damage on an asphalt shingle roof?
- Loose shingles or sections of shingles
- Shingles that have blown away
- Warping, curling, or “fish-mouthing.”
- Cracking, splitting, and tearing
- Pitting or holes in the material
- Degranulation of the upper surface
- Loosening around the fasteners
It doesn’t take a major tornado to strip previously damaged asphalt shingles. An EF-1 tornado has wind speeds in the range of 73-112 miles per hour, which is also experienced during a hurricane. At wind speeds above 90 miles per hour, the rated wind resistance of most asphalt roofs is exceeded.
Clay Tiles & Wood Shanks
Clay tiles and wood shakes aren’t generally good in high-wind conditions either. In addition to lifting off the roof, they may crack under the impact of flying debris. Once any roofing material is damaged, it becomes easier for water to leak in and for more damage to accumulate.
It’s important to note that your roof may be damaged not only by a previous tornado or high-wind event, but also by heavy rain, hail, snow, or ice damming. Age and poor installation can accelerate damage, reducing the roof's lifespan.
Because tornadoes have been causing significant damage to homes, including roofs, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) introduced explicit tornado load requirements in 2024. This new code reinforced the need for building envelope components, including roofs, to be designed for both higher wind and higher impact loads.
A 2025 structural engineering review found that residential buildings in tornado-prone regions require upgraded structural systems beyond standard code requirements. The findings called for metal roofing systems that provide improved panel anchorage and interlocking installation, and that perform better under tornado-type uplift and debris loading.
How Metal Roofing Performs in a Tornado
Metal roofing offers homeowners in high-risk tornado areas many advantages. One of the biggest is its ability to resist cracking and splitting around its fasteners. This prevents the edges from curling up, which would otherwise cause segments of the roof to behave like air scoops—a common issue with asphalt shingles.
Nails, staples, and adhesives aren’t used to fasten metal roofing to the decking. Instead, metal roofs use high-quality, corrosion-resistant screw fasteners and interlocking technology that keeps the roof firmly attached, even in high winds and flying debris common during tornadoes, enhancing your safety and peace of mind.
You’ll find that most metal roofs, including stone-coated metal roofing, have the highest ratings for resistance to wind uplift. This is a critical safety metric for the roof's performance under windy conditions. Not only does it help metal roofs meet strict building code requirements, but it also keeps them impervious to wind-driven rain.
Metal roofs also perform well against hail and storm debris. In fact, most carry the highest possible UL impact-resistance rating. And the best metal roofs back up their products with a lifetime limited warranty against hail damage and high winds.
Other Benefits of Metal Roofs
There are many other advantages to metal roofing as well:
- Longevity: Metal roofs last 2-3 times longer than traditional roofing materials, so homeowners may need only one roof remodel in their lifetime.
- Energy efficiency: The reflective surface doesn’t absorb heat from the sun like asphalt, helping reduce cooling costs by up to 25%.
- Superior fire rating: Metal is noncombustible, and top-performing metal roofing carries UL’s highest fire rating.
- Increased home value: A metal roof can raise a property’s value by as much as 6%, whether for resale or building equity.
- Insurance discounts: At a time when many insurance carriers are dropping clients, metal roofs may qualify owners for discounts.
One other benefit of metal roofing, more aesthetic than practical, is that it’s available in stamped profiles that mimic shingles, tiles, or shakes to match the home's architectural style. Stone-coated metal roofing is available in many hues to coordinate with any paint scheme.
DECRA Stone-Coated Metal Roofing Is Ideal for Tornado Alley
Do you live in a tornado-prone state and want to improve your home's roof protection? A DECRA stone-coated metal roof checks all the boxes above and offers the best chance of successfully weathering Mother Nature’s windy fury.
You can see what DECRA roofing looks like up close by requesting a complimentary sample. Or see how attractive it would look throughout your home with our online visualization tool!
