On 1 February 2024 the daily maximum gust modelled at San Clemente was about 54 mph, high enough to peel back anything already loose on a roof but short of the 58 mph severe threshold, so the damage that storm left behind is almost always at edges and fasteners, not whole roof sections.
How strong was the wind on February 1 2024
According to the Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis archive, the daily maximum 10 m gust modelled at the San Clemente location on 1 February 2024 was about 54 mph. That places the day in the high band for this city: below the 58 mph mark treated as the severe threshold, but well past the point where loose material starts moving.
This figure comes from a model at the city location, not a wind gauge on a specific street. It is useful for comparing one storm day against another and for deciding which past dates are worth a closer look at a roof, which 1 February 2024 is.
What does a 54 mph gust actually do to a roof
A gust in the high band does not strip a sound roof. What it does is finish off anything already weak: a shingle tab with failed sealant, a ridge cap with a popped nail, flashing that was already lifting a few millimeters at one edge. Wind in this range catches that edge and works it further, rather than starting the problem from nothing.
The parts most exposed are the ones facing the prevailing direction of that day's gust and anything near a roof edge, hip, or ridge, where uplift forces concentrate. Field shingles in the middle of a slope rarely move at 54 mph. Edges and penetrations do.
Where to check after a storm like this one
Start at the ridge line and look for caps sitting slightly off-pattern or showing a gap at one end. Move to the eaves and rake edges next, since lifted shingle corners show as a shadow line or a slightly raised tab when viewed from the ground at an angle, especially in low morning or evening light.
Check where the roof meets anything vertical: chimneys, skylights, and the wall of a second story above a lower roof. Flashing in these spots is sealant-dependent, and sealant is exactly what a 54 mph gust tests. A flashlight check of the attic after a windy day, looking for a new pinpoint of daylight or a damp rafter, catches problems before they show up as a ceiling stain.
Is February 1 2024 worth asking a contractor about now
Yes, if the roof is more than a few years past its last close inspection. According to the storm record for San Clemente, this date is logged as a wind event worth checking after, and a contractor walking a roof can tell the difference between cosmetic wear and a fastener or flashing issue the gust actually caused.
Ask for a written note of anything found at the ridge, the eaves, and the flashing, with photos, rather than a verbal summary. That record matters later if a claim or a follow-up repair references this specific date.
How to get a roof looked at after this date
Putting a request in front of local contractors is the fastest way to get a second set of eyes on the roof before the next storm. The request goes to contractors that cover the San Clemente ZIP code automatically, in under 60 seconds, and no more than three of them take it on.
From there, the homeowner is the one asking the questions above: where they looked, what they found, and whether it ties back to the February 2024 event or something older. A specific date and a specific gust number give a contractor something concrete to check against, rather than a vague request to look the roof over.