This winter has not been kind to roofs. Beginning with Hurricane Sandy, followed shortly after by Storm Nemo, and multiple severe storms across the midwest, the southern plains and west, this winter has left a string of damaged roofs throughout the country ... and, apparently, it isn't letting up.
While high winds and ice dams are the main culprits of winter roof damage, sliding snow and ice wreak havoc on roof edges, gutters, and even passers-by. The solution, of course, is snow guards (or other retention systems) and insulation, not ice melting systems. The gutter is not the source of an ice dam, and hot wires are not a solution.
Good advice to pass along.
