The 2026 monsoon is shaping up to start about 10 days earlier than normal. The
NWS Flagstaff outlook released April 10, 2026 puts onset around June 28 with
above-normal precipitation across the Mogollon Rim and Coconino Plateau. Translation:
you have less time than you think to get your roof ready.
Every July we get a flood of emergency-repair calls — most from homeowners whose
roofs were fine until a 60 mph microburst pushed water under a lifted shingle or
cracked tile. The good news: the prep work is cheap, and most of it you can do in
a Saturday morning.
Do not walk a tile roof yourself. Concrete and clay tile crack under boot
pressure and a single cracked tile costs more to fix than hiring a pro to do
the inspection in the first place.
The 14-point monsoon checklist
1. Clear all valleys and gutters
Pine needles are the #1 reason monsoon water finds its way under shingles in
Prescott and Flagstaff. A clogged valley turns into a 4-inch deep river on the
first hard rain. Budget $180–$320 for a pro cleanout if you can't get up there.
2. Walk the perimeter and look for lifted shingles
Wind events in May (we usually get one or two 50+ mph days) lift shingle tabs
that look fine from the ground. Binoculars work. Anything bent up = sealant has
failed = water entry point.
3. Check every penetration
Plumbing vents, swamp cooler stands, satellite mounts — every hole through the
roof has a flashing or boot. Lead boots crack at the base after 8–12 years in
AZ sun. A new boot is $45 in materials and 20 minutes of labor.
4. Inspect the underlayment exposure on tile roofs
Lift the field tile at 3–4 spots (or have a roofer do it) and look at the felt
or synthetic underneath. If it's brittle and tears like newspaper, your tile
roof is leaking right now — you just don't know it yet because tile sheds
most water before it gets there. See our full cracked underlayment post.
5. Trim overhanging branches back 6 ft
Ponderosa branches abrade granules off shingles every windy day. They're also
the #1 source of roof punctures during a microburst. 6 feet of clearance is the
minimum for both fire code (Flagstaff WUI) and roof longevity.
6. Reseal exposed nails on metal flashing
Drip edge, step flashing, counter-flashing. UV cooks Henry's 208 in about
5 years up here. A $14 tube reapplied to every visible nail head buys you
another 5.
7. Check all caulk on chimney flashing
Chimney flashing is the leakiest spot on most roofs. If your caulk has
pulled away or is cracked, replace it now.
8. Look at the soffit and fascia
Brown stains = previous leak. Black stains = active leak. Both need a roofer
before monsoon, not after.
9. Check attic insulation for staining
A flashlight in the attic on a sunny afternoon will show you exactly where
daylight is coming through. Mark every spot with chalk.
10. Test your downspout drainage
Run a hose into the gutter for 5 minutes. Water should exit at least 4 ft
from the foundation. Splash blocks crack and shift over winter.
11. Photograph everything
Take dated photos of every slope before monsoon. If you have to file a
storm-damage claim in August, the adjuster needs proof the damage is new.
12. Confirm your insurance coverage
Pull your policy and verify it covers wind, hail, AND has a separate roof
rider for cosmetic damage. Many AZ carriers excluded cosmetic in 2025.
13. Stage emergency tarps
A 20×30 blue tarp + a sandbag kit costs $60 at Home Depot and saves your
drywall when (not if) a 2 a.m. cell hits.
14. Save a roofer's number
Do this now. After the first big storm every roofer in Yavapai and
Coconino county has a 4-week wait list. The homeowners who get serviced
first are the ones already in the system.
When to call a pro vs DIY
DIY: gutter cleanout, branch trim, tarp staging, photo documentation,
re-caulking visible nails on a shingle roof you can safely walk.
Pro: anything on a tile roof, anything involving the underlayment,
chimney flashing, valley repair, vent boot replacement on a steep pitch.
Most NorthernAZRoofing contractors offer a flat-rate **$149 monsoon
inspection** that includes drone overview + all 14 points above with a
written report. Book it in May, not June.
What 2025 taught us
Last year's monsoon dumped 4.8 inches on Flagstaff in a single 90-minute
cell on July 14. Our partner contractors handled 1,247 emergency calls
in the next 72 hours. Of those, 94 % were preventable — lifted
shingles, clogged valleys, cracked vent boots. None of those failures
cost more than $400 to fix in May. All of them cost $1,800 to $14,000
in interior damage by August.
Don't be the August call. Be the May checklist.