Going through a blizzard can be quite a dramatic experience. It is bound to go more smoothly if your home is set up to withstand this sort of weather. Your roof, especially, should be prepared to resist the high winds and heavy snowfall that come with a blizzard. But how do you equip your roof for these big, snowy storms? Here are a few key tips.

Have any loose shingles replaced in the fall.

Get into the habit of looking your roof over carefully every fall. If you spot any shingles that are even the slightest bit lifted or loose, call a roofing company and have them replace those shingles. The strong winds of a blizzard will easily strip loose shingles from a home. And once one shingle sheet is gone, it is easier for the wind to get underneath the other ones. A roof that is fully intact with no missing shingles is far less likely to be damaged in a blizzard.

Make sure your roof deck is intact.

The roof deck is the wood that forms the base of your roof. This wood is usually pretty strong and rigid, but it can become cracked under a heavy snow load. A previous snow load may have cracked your roof deck, which will leave it more prone to more serious damage the next time a blizzard brings heavy snow. You can't always check the whole roof deck from the attic, but you should at least check the parts you can see. If you notice any cracks or fissures, contact a roofing company ASAP and have them come and repair that section before the next storm.

Clear in front of your vents.

This is important in any home, but even more so when you live in an area with blizzards. If your vents become blocked, your attic will get warmer than it should. This can cause snow on the roof to start melting. It will then trickle down and form ice dams on the edge of the roof. Ice dams can lead to substantial shingle damage. Go into your attic and make sure there's no insulation or boxes in front of your roof vents.

With the tips above, you can better protect your roof against damage in the next blizzard. Talk to your roofer to see if they have any additional tips. They can tell you what has worked well for other homeowners in your region. 

Contact a roofing contractor to learn more.