4 min read
What happened
A severe thunderstorm moved across central Lee County on the afternoon of Thursday, August 13, 2026. NWS Birmingham issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning with the storm centered over Opelika around 2:55 p.m. CDT, moving east at 15 mph, with 60 mph wind gusts in the warning criteria.
Documented impacts across the Opelika area:
- Downed trees on I-85 near Exit 62, with additional trees reported down between mile markers 60 and 66
- Roughly 300 Opelika Power customers without power across two outage areas: Fox Run Parkway, Jordan's Gate and Covenant Drive; and the South Uniroyal Road and Columbus Parkway area
- Multiple traffic signals out citywide, including along Gateway Drive in Tiger Town
- A downed tree with active fire in the 4200 block of Lee Road 390, with a second scene on Lee Road 391
NWS meteorologists noted a strong radar signature with this storm, including a sizable hail spike aloft. Radar signatures indicate hail in the storm column, not confirmed hail size on the ground. Treat any hail damage as unverified until you or a professional inspects the roof directly.
What 60 mph wind does to a roof
Wind damage is less obvious than hail and homeowners routinely miss it. What to look for:
- Shingles lifted or creased at the seal strip, often laying back down flat so damage is invisible from the ground
- Missing tabs or full shingles, especially along ridges, hips, and rake edges where uplift pressure is highest
- Exposed or backed-out nail heads
- Granule accumulation in gutters and at downspout outlets
- Debris impact marks from branches and airborne material
- Gutter, fascia, or drip edge separation from the roof edge
- Interior signs: new ceiling staining, especially near exterior walls and around penetrations
Critical point for homeowners: wind can break the adhesive seal between shingle courses without displacing the shingle. It looks fine from the driveway and leaks in the next rain. This is the single most commonly missed form of storm damage.
Trees and structural damage
Where a tree or large limb contacted a structure, the damage extends past the roof surface — decking, framing, gutters, siding, and interior finishes. Document everything before cleanup begins: photos of the tree in place, the point of contact, and any interior damage. Removal before documentation weakens the file.
What to do in the next 72 hours
- Photograph everything, including wide shots showing the property and the storm debris in place.
- Note the date of loss: August 13, 2026. This is required on any occurrence-based policy.
- Do not sign anything with a contractor who knocked on your door today.
- Get an independent assessment before filing.
- Cover active leaks with tarping only where it is safe to do so from the ground.
For background on how storm claims work across the state, see our Alabama storm damage guide.
Free storm damage assessment
A&E Roofing Advisors is offering free, no-obligation storm damage assessments for homeowners in Opelika, Auburn, and Lee County. We are an independent advisor, not a contractor, and we do not knock doors.
Text or call (404) 458-7984 to schedule, or start with the free Roof Score calculator on our homepage. If a tree, structural, or multi-system loss is involved, start on our storm damage restoration page instead.