Predicting roof damage in Northeast Ohio

From downpours to microbursts, pop-up storms to tornadoes, long-time Northeast Ohio weatherman AJ Colby has seen it all. He sat down recently with Joel Arlia, co-owner of Spartan StormShield. They discussed how weather affects roofs in the area, as well as AJ’s career.

The gentlemen have known each other for years and admire each other’s honesty and integrity.

Q: When did you first know you wanted to become a meteorologist?

AJ: In 1985 an extremely powerful F5 tornado hit Albion, Pennsylvania. My aunt and uncle took me to see the damage it had done. It made me realize what a powerful force Mother Nature is and to respect its unpredictability.

Q: How long did it take you to become a meteorologist? 

AJ: I’m still becoming one (laughing). I have a bachelor’s degree in arts and science from The Ohio State University. Today the school offers a degree in meteorology and is internationally renowned.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a weatherman? 

AJ: Meeting viewers, many of whom have followed my career since the beginning. The science of meteorology is the second thing I love, and the third is how the graphics help me explain complex weather scenarios.

Q: What advancements in weather forecasting technology have improved our ability to predict and prepare for severe weather events that could damage roofs? 

AJ: There is a lot of finesse to predictive technology. It’s a marriage of art and science. Doppler radar has gone through several iterations. This is because of how much bigger and faster our computing power is. And AI is ushering us into a new golden age. It will allow us to better crunch numbers for more accurate forecasting models.

Q: What are some dangerous weather conditions that affect roofs?

AJ: Oftentimes pop-up storms, which are different than severe weather fronts, happen quickly when the conditions are right, such as warmer air being surrounded by colder air. This becomes an activator of vertical motion in the atmosphere. With microbursts, storm damage can be intensely localized, just a drizzle on one block and on the next one over, all heck breaking loose.

Q: How can homeowners determine if there’s been a catastrophic storm in their area? 

AJ: The National Weather Service does solicit public reports through the crowdsourcing app mPING (Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground). People can anonymously submit and review weather reports that are vetted by the NWS.

Q: When should you check for storm damage to your roof?

Joel: If you notice shingles that are loose or fluttering, getting a roof inspection could allow for a repair, if necessary, rather than a whole roof replacement. If there is storm damage in your neighborhood, or you notice dents on your mailbox or gutters, it’s a good idea to get an inspection. The older a roof becomes, the more susceptible it is to damage. Nowadays, some insurance companies may not cover damages or might lessen the coverage on older roofs.

Toward the end of the discussion, AJ mentioned that his own roof is more than 20 years old and has never been inspected. In response, Joel proposed for Spartan StormShield to conduct a free inspection of AJ’s roof and then share their findings with the Mimi audience. AJ wholeheartedly agreed.

Armed with product innovation and trusted craftsmanship from highly trained crews, Spartan StormShield lives up to its reputation for installing “the roof system to last your lifetime.” The company is headquartered at 309 Silver Street in Akron. It installs and repairs roofs for homes and businesses all over Northeast Ohio. Call 330-SPARTAN (330-772-7826) or visit SpartanStormShield.com.