3 Ultimate Facts: Are Solar Panels Safe During a Hurricane (2026)
With electricity costs rising, thousands of Central Florida homeowners are upgrading to solar energy. However, before making the investment, almost every homeowner asks the exact same question: are solar panels safe during a hurricane?
It is a valid concern. When you are expecting 120 mph winds, the idea of having large glass panels bolted to your roof can be terrifying. At Gravity Roofing, we work closely with solar installers to ensure that the roof beneath the panels is structurally sound. Here are the ultimate facts about solar panels and hurricane safety.
Do solar panels get destroyed in hurricanes?
Are solar panels safe during a hurricane? Yes, when properly installed. Modern solar panels and their mounting hardware are engineered to withstand Category 4 hurricane winds (up to 140+ mph). In fact, they often protect the shingles directly underneath them from wind and flying debris.
3 Facts About Solar Panels and Hurricane Winds
If you are considering solar but are worried about storm season, here are three facts that will give you peace of mind regarding whether are solar panels safe during a hurricane:
1. They Are Tested for Extreme Wind Uplift
Solar panels are not just screwed into the shingles; the mounting racks are bolted directly into the heavy wooden rafters (trusses) of your roof. The panels themselves are tested in wind tunnels to withstand massive uplift forces. According to the Florida Building Code, solar installations must meet the same wind-load requirements as the roof itself. When asking are solar panels safe during a hurricane, the engineering says yes.
2. The Condition of Your Roof Matters Most
This is where Gravity Roofing comes in. Are solar panels safe during a hurricane if the roof underneath them is rotting? Absolutely not. If your roof deck is soft, or if your shingles are 15 years old, the heavy lag bolts holding the solar panels will pull right out of the rotting wood during a storm. You must ensure your roof is in pristine condition before installing solar. If your roof needs replacing in the next 5 years, replace it now before the panels go up.
3. They Can Actually Protect Your Shingles
Surprisingly, solar panels act as a shield for the portion of the roof they cover. Because they are raised slightly above the shingles, they block the direct impact of heavy rain, hail, and extreme UV rays. While the exposed areas of your roof will age normally, the shingles underneath the panels often look brand new decades later.
Inspect Before You Install
“The biggest mistake we see is homeowners installing $30,000 worth of solar panels on a roof that only has 3 years of life left,” says Taz Crumpler, President of Gravity Roofing. When that old roof inevitably leaks, you have to pay a solar company thousands of dollars to remove the panels just so we can replace the roof, and then pay them again to put the panels back.
If you are planning to go solar and wondering are solar panels safe during a hurricane on your specific home, let us inspect your roof first. We will verify that your decking and shingles are strong enough to support the installation.
Contact Gravity Roofing today to book your free, no-obligation roof inspection or get an instant online roof estimate. Call us at (407) 461-0234 or visit us at 14 S Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803.
