The Solar Forecast: Clearing Up 5 Weather Myths
These 5 myths about solar all blame the weather: clouds, snow, hail, heat, and one that’s really about the roof. Each has a grain of truth. None is a good reason to make a decision without the facts.
We’re roofers, so we look at solar from the shingles up. Here’s the five-day forecast for the 5 myths about solar, plus the one question every homeowner should answer before panels go on: how old is the roof?
Today: myths clearing by afternoon
Your 5-Day Forecast for 5 Myths About Solar
Tap a day to see the myth, the fact, and a tip from the forecaster. Each of the 5 myths about solar gets its own weather.
Panels make electricity from daylight, and some light gets through even a gray sky. Output drops under heavy clouds, but it doesn’t switch off, and rain rinses dust and pollen off the glass. What matters is the total over a year, not one dreary Tuesday.
Forecaster’s tip Want real numbers for your address? NREL’s PVWatts calculator estimates yearly output using local weather data.
Snow does block panels while it sits there, but smooth, tilted glass sheds it, and the panels go back to work when it slides off. An NREL study modeled annual snow losses for fixed systems across the continental U.S. at 0% to 16%, depending on location and tilt.
Forecaster’s tip Never climb an icy roof to clear panels. A slow day in January is cheaper than a fall.
Panels are built for weather. The standard IEC 61215 certification test fires 25 mm (about 1 inch) ice balls at 23 meters per second, roughly 51 mph, at 11 spots on the module. Here’s how the test works.
Forecaster’s tip Big hail can still crack glass, just as it can bruise shingles. After a major storm, have both the roof and the panels checked.
Heat does cut efficiency. The Department of Energy explains that solar cells generally work better at lower temperatures. But long, bright summer days still produce plenty. Airflow under the panels helps them run cooler.
Forecaster’s tip Ask for the panel’s temperature coefficient on the spec sheet. Smaller is better.
This is the one we care about most. Panels sit on your roof for decades. If the shingles underneath wear out first, the panels have to come off and go back on for the reroof. The Department of Energy notes it can often save money to install solar at the same time as a roof replacement.
Forecaster’s tip Every bolt through the roof is a penetration that needs proper flashing. See the #1 roof flashing mistake.
Put together, the 5 myths about solar fall apart for the same reason: weather changes how much a panel makes on a given day, but solar is judged on the yearly total. Ohio’s gray Januarys are balanced by long, bright Junes.
The Myth That Costs the Most: Ignoring the Roof
Of the 5 myths about solar, this is the one that hits the wallet. Pick your roof’s age to see what we’d tell you before any panels go on.
Your roof has most of its life ahead of it. Have the installer document the roof’s condition before work starts, and make sure every mount is flashed.
Probably fine. Get a roof inspection first so you know about any soft decking, worn pipe boots, or flashing issues before panels cover them.
This is the gray zone. Compare the roof’s remaining life with how long the panels will stay. An inspection tells you which way to go.
Seriously consider reroofing first. Pulling and reinstalling panels later adds cost to a roof replacement you’ll likely need soon.
Replace the roof first. Putting new panels on an old roof means paying to take them off again in a few years.
Under the panels, the roof still needs everything a good roof needs: a leak barrier at the eaves and valleys, solid decking, and balanced ventilation. Our parts of a roof guide shows every layer, and roof underlayment explains what goes on before the shingles.
What the 5 Myths About Solar Miss: It’s a Team
Most of the 5 myths about solar treat panels and shingles as separate things. They share the same weather. The panels shade part of the roof, and the roof carries the panels. When both are planned together, the mounts land on solid decking, every penetration is flashed, and the roof won’t need replacing halfway through the panels’ life.
Tax note for 2026: the IRS says the federal residential clean energy credit is not allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025. See the IRS FAQ and talk with a tax professional about your situation.
New to solar vocabulary? Our solar glossary defines the 21 terms you’ll see on a quote.
When the Weather Does Win
Busting the 5 myths about solar doesn’t mean weather never wins. Big hail, a falling limb, or a wind event can damage shingles, flashing, and panels in the same afternoon.
After a major storm, look for dented gutters, bruised or missing shingles, and debris on the array, then call for an inspection before filing a claim. Our hail and roofing guide shows what hail damage looks like, and our storm damage team can document the roof for your insurer.
Roofers Who Think Past the Shingles
Wilbur Thrush founded Thrush & Son in 1960. W. Allen Thrush owns the company today, and Corey Thrush is the third generation. More than 31,000 Miami Valley homeowners have trusted us, from our Brookville headquarters and offices in Troy and Lebanon.
As a GAF President’s Club Contractor, we install complete GAF roofing systems built to carry what goes on top of them, and we’ve heard all 5 myths about solar from homeowners. See our roofing services, the project gallery, and homeowner reviews.
5 Myths About Solar: Your Questions, Answered
What homeowners ask us most about the 5 myths about solar and the roof underneath the panels.
What are the 5 myths about solar and weather?
That panels don’t work in clouds or rain, that snow shuts them down, that hail ruins them, that heat makes them useless, and that the roof underneath doesn’t matter. Each of the 5 myths about solar has a grain of truth, but none is a reason to rule solar out.
Do solar panels work in Ohio winters?
Yes, with less output on short, snowy days. Cold itself helps efficiency; snow cover is what slows them down until it slides off. An NREL model put annual snow losses for fixed systems in the continental U.S. at 0% to 16%.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar?
If your roof is near the end of its life, usually yes. The Department of Energy notes it can often save money to install solar at the same time as a roof replacement, since panels would otherwise have to be removed and reinstalled for a later reroof.
Is there still a federal tax credit for home solar?
Not for new home systems. Under the 2025 federal tax law, the IRS says the residential clean energy credit is not allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed.
Can solar panels damage my roof?
The panels themselves don’t, but every mount is a hole in the roof. Proper flashing at each penetration and a roof in good shape underneath are what keep it watertight.
Does Thrush & Son inspect roofs before solar?
Yes. We’ll inspect the roof, tell you how much life it has left, and replace it first if it needs it. Our solar glossary explains the terms you’ll see on a solar quote.
Thinking Solar? Check the Roof First
Before you sign for panels, and after you’ve put the 5 myths about solar to rest, let us inspect the roof. We’ll tell you how much life it has left, show you photos, and give you a written plan with no pressure. Ask about financing for a roof replacement.
Call 937-833-5136 · Office: Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–2 · Michelle, our AI assistant, answers 24/7
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