Perhaps nobody will get slammed again this Spring/Summer season. But the statistical odds are against that notion. More folks in Texas will almost certainly encounter an extreme weather event with roof-damaging potential at their solar-equipped property. Dang.

The robot gave me the following odds based on published weather and insurance claim data/statistics:

• A Texas homeowner has roughly a 1-in-20 to 1-in-35 chance of filing any weather-related roof claim in a given year (the Texas rate is higher than the 1-in-36 national average because Texas leads the country in hail claims)
• Over a 20-year asphalt shingle roof lifespan, the cumulative probability of at least one damaging hail/wind event is somewhere around 45–65%
• Over 30 years (the rated lifespan of most common shingle products), you’re approaching 60–80%

Between April 24 and April 29, 2026, North and Central Texas experienced six consecutive days of severe thunderstorms. The NWS (National Weather Service) Fort Worth office recorded 287 reports of hail, wind damage, flooding, and tornadoes. Two people were killed. At least 11 were injured. Five confirmed tornadoes touched down -including an EF-3 near Mineral Wells that destroyed warehouses and damaged homes across a two-to-three-mile path.

For some property owners across DFW, Parker County, Tarrant County, Rockwall, Hunt County, and points south toward Waco, the aftermath means roof inspections, insurance claims, and decisions about what comes next.

If your property has solar panels -or if you’ve been thinking about adding them- this recent weather event reflects some important insights i felt it was important to share here, dear readers.

What Happened: Six Days of Severe Weather Across North Texas

The outbreak began Friday, April 24, with supercell thunderstorms pushing southeast out of Oklahoma into Northeast Texas. By Saturday the 25th, destructive storms had moved across the DFW Metroplex producing tornadoes, large hail, and straight-line wind gusts up to 89 mph near Springtown. This was basically equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane + big chunks of ice flying around.

Monday, April 27, brought another round. Supercells developed across the middle of the Metroplex during the afternoon, then tracked eastward through the evening. Hail up to teacup size was reported in northeast Dallas, Rockwall, and Hunt Counties. Oh man.

Tuesday, April 28, was the most intense day. Supercells again developed near Wichita Falls and moved southeast across North Texas. An EF-3 tornado struck Mineral Wells, injuring five people and severely damaging a wide swath of the city. Hail up to softball size -about 4 inches in diameter- fell across North Texas. Reports of 3-inch hailstones came in from as close as Mountain Creek Lake, between Grand Prairie and Cockrell Hill.

Across the six-day event, NWS Fort Worth issued 111 warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash flooding. Even just based on our own internal data (NATiVE’s service teams are busy!), many homeowners are now scrambling to fix their damaged and leaking roofs. *Read-on to get to the solar panel stuff*

What This Means for Your Roof

Hail at 1 inch and above can damage asphalt shingles. At 2 inches and above (roughly egg-to-tennis-ballish size), damage to shingles, flashing, vents, and gutters is highly likely. At softball size, structural damage to decking and underlayment becomes a real concern. Some solar panels will likely meet their end in an event like this. :(  (It’s a good thing most folks are unlikely to ever witness this size of hail in their neighborhood.)

The April 2026 event produced 226 reports (to the NWS) of large hail across six days. If your property is located anywhere in the affected zone (and particularly in the western half of Fort Worth Parker County, Palo Pinto County, Rockwall, or Hunt County) you should have your roof professionally inspected, even if you don’t see obvious damage from the ground.

*Hail damage isn’t always visible to the untrained eye, ya’ll. Shingle bruising, micro-fractures, granule loss, and compromised flashing can all reduce your roof’s remaining service life without being obvious from street level.*

If You Already Have Solar Panels

Here’s the good news: tier-1 solar panels are tested to withstand hail impact up to 1-inch diameter stones at roughly 50 mph. In most hail events -even significant ones- the panels themselves survive while the surrounding shingles take the damage.

That said, solar panels aren’t invulnerable. At softball size and above, panel damage is possible (perhaps likely). And even when the panels are fine, if your roof underneath needs to be replaced, the panels have to come off first.

This is where “Detach and Reinstall” (“D&R”) comes into play.

What Is Solar D&R?

D&R -sometimes called “R&R” for “removal and reattach”- is the process of safely removing an existing solar array from a roof so that roofing work can be completed, then reinstalling the system once the new roof is in place. It’s a standard procedure that solar companies perform regularly, especially in hail-prone regions like North Texas.

A proper R&R involves:

Removal phase: Documenting and Disconnecting the system from the electrical service panel (aka breaker panel), carefully removing panels and racking hardware, and storing components safely on-site. Solar-related junction boxes and conduit typically remain in place.

Roofing phase: Your roofing contractor replaces the damaged roof with full access to the deck -no panels in the way. New flashing is installed at all mounting points during reinstallation.

Reinstall phase: Panels and racking are carefully remounted to the new roof, wiring is reconnected, and the system is tested and recommissioned to confirm it’s generating at its original design capacity.

The whole D&R process typically adds 1 to 3 days to the reroofing timeline. (Larger commercial systems installed over asphalt shingles (this is rare) may take proportionally longer depending on roof/array size and complexity.)

Insurance Coverage for D&R

If your roof replacement is the result of a covered insurance claim -which hail and wind damage typically are under Texas homeowners policies- the cost of solar D&R is often -but not always- a billable line item on the claim. *Assuming you had hail and wind damage covered and explicitly added the installed solar installation to your insurance coverage plan, your insurance should cover the labor and materials required D&R  as part of the roof replacement scope.

A few things to be aware of:

Wind/hail deductibles in Texas can be high. Many Texas homeowners policies now carry a 1% or 2% wind/hail deductible, which is calculated against the insured dwelling value -not the repair cost. On a $400,000 home, a 2% deductible is $8,000. Make sure you understand your deductible structure before filing.

Not all policies explicitly cover D&R parts and labor. Some policies include “detach and reset” as part of the roof claim scope; others don’t address it. Review your policy language or ask your agent specifically about solar panel removal coverage.

Document everything. Before your roofer or solar company touches anything, photograph the roof, the panels, and any visible damage. If your system has monitoring (Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, etc.), pull production data showing output before and after the storm this can support your claim if the insurer questions whether the panels were functioning properly.

Texas homeowners have the right to choose their own contractor. Your insurance company may recommend vendors, but you are not required to use them -for roofing or for solar R&R.

If You Don’t Have Solar Yet -Here’s Why a Roof Replacement Is the Right Time

If you’re getting a new roof anyway, this is the single best time to add solar. Here’s why.

Your roof is brand new. Solar panels have a productive lifespan of 25+ years. Installing on a new roof means you probably won’t ever need to remove and reinstall the system for a mid-life reroof -the timelines align. Installing solar on a roof with only a few years of remaining expected life is one of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners and property managers make. We’re here to give you the straight dope, folks -not a manufactured rush to sell you a system. :)

What to Do Now

If your roof was in the storm path and you have solar: Get a professional roof inspection. If your roof needs replacement, contact your solar company (or contact NATiVE Solar) to coordinate the R&R before roofing work begins. Do not let a roofing contractor attempt to work around your panels or remove them without an experienced and qualified (licenced and insured) solar solutions firm involved.  Improper handling can void warranties, damage components, and otherwise risk full solar system restoration.

If your roof was in the storm path and you don’t have solar: Get the roof inspected and file your claim. Then, perhaps, consider whether this might be the right time to add solar to the new roof. A fresh roof, already being paid for by insurance, is the ideal foundation for a 25+year solar investment.  :) (ok that’s our sales pitch for today)

If you have solar and aren’t sure whether your panels were damaged: Check your monitoring dashboard. A sudden drop in production following the storm dates (April 24–29) may indicate panel-level damage. If you see reduced output, contact your solar provider for a site inspection. For NATiVE Solar customers (or well, any solar property owner, really,) reach out to our service team directly.

The NATiVE Solar Perspective

We’ve been installing and servicing solar in Texas since 2007. We know hail happens sometimes -and it’s a discussion that needs to be had. It’s part of the operating environment here, and we design and specify equipment accordingly. We only install teir-1 PV (photovoltaic) panels tested for high wind and hail impact, and we’ve performed D&R work ranging from small residential arrays to large commercial rooftop systems. Our techs know this terrain intimately and commonly work in conjunction with roofing contractors to help ensure quick completion of the entire project .

If you’re navigating a roof claim or weighing your options after the storms, we’re here to help -whether that’s coordinating an R&R, designing a new system for a freshly replaced roof, or connecting your roofing contractor with our partner program.

Start a conversation with our team →

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Dear Readers – Your own insurance coverage, claims processes, and policy terms vary. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute insurance advice. Review your specific policy or consult your insurance agent for guidance on your coverage. Please and Thanks, folks.

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