TPO roofing in Burke, VA: what does NOAA's storm record say about a low-slope roof?
Anyone asking about a TPO sheet here is also asking whether Burke weather is hard on flat roofs. The federal storm database gives a short, checkable answer, and it is smaller than most sales pages suggest.
Of 44 entries naming Burke from January 2012 to September 2026, one describes roofs and none names TPO or any membrane. The record supports a habit of inspecting after storms, not a choice of material.
- 17 entries are thunderstorm wind
- 24 are floods, mostly road closures
- 3 are light snow
How many storm entries name Burke, and what kind?
We read the National Weather Service entries in NOAA's Storm Events Database for the Fairfax County zone, keeping any whose location or narrative says Burke. Many of the flood entries concern Burke Road and Burke Lake Road, so the road names are part of the count.
| Year | Thunderstorm wind | Flood or flash flood | Winter weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 to 2017 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 2019 to 2022 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 to Sept 2026 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 24 | 3 |
No entry is typed as hail or tornado. 2013, 2014 and 2024 have none that name Burke. The count says what forecasters recorded, not how often a roof leaks, and it is no forecast.
Which entries mention a building, and which mention a roof?
June 23, 2015
- What the entry says
- Several trees fell onto homes, reported by the county's emergency office.
- What it leaves out
- Which roofs, and whether any covering was breached.
July 29, 2023
- What the entry says
- A tree came down onto a house on Langport Drive.
- What it leaves out
- The roof type and any damage to it.
August 7, 2023
- What the entry says
- A large tree fell onto an apartment building on Chase Commons Court.
- What it leaves out
- Whether that building's roof is pitched or low-slope.
What does the one roof entry actually say?
A business park building was noted to have some damage due to the roof being slightly lifted temporarily.
NWS event narrative, June 22, 2026, south side of Lake Royal along Guinea Drive. Opened October 15, 2026.
After a Burke storm, what do you ask about a low-slope roof?
Look at the edges and flashings first
The single-ply trade association says low-slope roofs should be inspected at least twice a year and after any major storm, starting with loose metal, fasteners and the flashings around penetrations. Those are the places to look.
Ask what the edge metal was tested to
The 2021 model code asks for edge metal on low-slope single-ply roofs to be tested to the ANSI/SPRI ES-1 standard, and for the membrane assembly to be tested by FM 4474, UL 580 or UL 1897. Put the test names in the written scope.
Ask about impact, since limbs are what the record shows
Trees are the object in most of these entries. The same code chapter asks low-slope coverings to resist impact by a named test. A test result does not say what a particular fallen limb did, so look.
Stay off a roof with a limb resting on it
What the county's permit page leaves out
Fairfax County's permit list names less than 100 square feet of commercial roof covering on its no-permit side and roof repairs on its permit side. It does not name TPO, membranes, flat roofs or hail, so ask the county how a full membrane replacement is classed. The Burke page covers the office and the rest of the county rules.
Questions about TPO and Burke weather
Does NOAA say any Burke roof is TPO?
No. None of the 44 entries names a roof material, and only one mentions roofs at all.
Is Burke a hail area?
The database has no entry typed as hail that names Burke. That is a statement about the records, and it does not rule out hail on a given street.
Do flood entries matter for a flat roof?
Mostly they are road closures at Burke Road and Heritage Square Drive. They describe water on streets, not water on roofs, so use them as a reminder to keep drains clear.
Why check a roof after a storm even if nothing leaks?
Because the trade association's own advice is to inspect after any major storm, and a loosened edge or flashing may show nothing indoors at first.
Does a 2026 microburst mean TPO is the wrong choice?
Not by itself. The narrative describes damage to a business park roof and to townhome roofs without naming a covering, so it cannot rank materials.
Where can I read the same entries myself?
NOAA publishes the yearly detail files as open data. Filter the Fairfax County zone for Burke in the location or narrative, as we did.
Is TPO a candidate for a Burke townhouse with a pitched roof?
A single-ply sheet belongs on a roof that is low-slope for drainage. Our flat roof guide explains where that line sits.
Where do you go next?
Which pages did we read?
Opened October 15, 2026.
Talk through the next step
Talk through your roof with King's Roofing
Share the address, what you are seeing on the roof and the decision you need to make. We will tell you what to expect before anything is scheduled.
9220 Topaz St, Fairfax, VA 22031
Mon to Fri 7 AM to 8:30 PM, Sat 7 AM to 8 PM, closed Sunday