How Winnipeg's Intense Weather Affects Your Roof

thomas969184
Sep 16, 2025
2 min read

If you live in the Winnipeg area, your roof isn’t just a feature, it’s a first line of defense. With our wildly unpredictable weather, your roofing system needs to handle blazing summer heat, -40°C winters, hailstorms, ice dams, and massive snow loads.

Here’s how our local climate really impacts your roof and what you can do to protect your home.

1. Freeze-Thaw Cycles & Ice Dams

From late fall through early spring, Winnipeg gets constant freeze-thaw conditions. That means:

Snow melts on your roof during the day
Water refreezes at night
Ice builds up at the roof edge (aka ice damming)
Water backs up under shingles and leaks into the attic or walls

Prevention:

Install ice & water shield underlayment
Make sure your attic is well-ventilated and properly insulated
Use drip edge flashing and proper eavestrough systems

2. Hailstorms & Wind Damage

Winnipeg is one of Canada’s top hail zones. Hail and strong winds can:

Crack or break shingles
Knock granules off asphalt
Loosen flashing
Tear off ridge vents or soffits

What to Watch For:

Bald spots or granules in gutters
Dented vents or flashing
Shingle corners lifted or missing

Even small hail can reduce roof lifespan. An inspection after every major storm is a smart move to ensuring you know the health of your roof and avoid bigger problems down the road.

3. UV Exposure & Summer Heat

Our summers bring more than just heat. UV rays break down roofing materials over time, especially cheaper shingles.

Result:

Curling, cracking, or brittle shingles
Faded color
Compromised waterproofing

Metal and rubber roofs resist this much better than standard asphalt roofing.

4. Heavy Snow Loads

Winnipeg winters can dump massive amounts of snow. A few inches may not seem like much, but wet snow can weigh up to 20 lbs per square foot, stressing your structure and trapping moisture on the roof deck.

Risks:

Sagging roof lines
Ice damming
Roof leaks
Eave separation or fascia rot

Regular snow clearing and proper attic insulation go a long way to avoiding costly roof repairs.

5. Spring & Fall Rainstorms

We get some serious downpours in Manitoba, especially in spring during the melt. If your gutters or eavestroughs are clogged or poorly pitched, you’re risking:

Water pooling around your foundation
Erosion of landscaping
Water backing up under shingles

Gutter guards, proper roof pitch, and sealed flashing are critical.

How Pristine Builds for Winnipeg Weather

At Pristine, we don’t just install roofs, we engineer them for Manitoba conditions. This includes:

Ice & water shield installed in key leak zones
Hail-resistant shingles or rubber options
Metal flashing that holds up in extreme temps
Eavestroughs and fascia systems that drain right – not just look good
Full inspections and storm response from our in-house roofers, never a random subcontractor.