It's a vaulted attic. Inadequate insulation on the ceiling and pointless insulation on the ends.

When the power failed, the winds howled and our house creaked, I loved playing Mozart's Funeral March (press) in the dark.

If everything in that attic is 2x4 and not 2x6 framing I'd say the framing is inadequate and should be beefed up. Of course it depends on where you live and if wind storms are not an issue in your area.

Nothing seems off from the 2 pics you posted. There's a different style of truss in that vaulted area, which is probably less rigid than the other trusses as there is no bottom chord. If you can't see anything broken or loose back in that area, I'd assume it's creaking from a brace or the added on framing for the vault. Nails moving in and out through wood can be noisy. It will be very difficult to find the source.

I think finding the source will prove to be very difficult. I cannot physically get up behind the vault area in the attic and what I can visually see looks good, although I am not an experienced builder.

I will attach a pic looking opposite direction of the vault towards the other end of the home. Not sure if this will be helpful at all. I will also include a video with sound showing the cracking noise. Again, this noise is only happening in 25+ winds. We do live in an open area and get wind, but not often gusts of 35+ until a few days ago. The East coast is getting some winter storms. Anyhow, thank you again for any input.

Video link

https://imgur.com/lzI9muR

"If everything in that attic is 2x4 and not 2x6 framing I'd say the framing is inadequate and should be beefed up. "

Those are modern engineered trusses. Plenty strong enough as is.

That sound is more like something is loose, like a vent, or piece of flashing or siding. Very strange.

I know it's really confusing me. I can hear it radiate through parts of the ceiling. One thing that I think of is maybe the vault acts as a speaker and absorbs the sound? I am going to attempt to climb up again and see it. We went up when the wind was blowing but did not hear it like we do in the bedroom. My main concern is it structurally sound. I would think it would show signs of cracking in the ceiling or wall if that was the case.

I agree with Seabornman. Sounds like maybe something outside is loose and banging causing the noise.

The video sounds like a flapping noise related to gusts. Look for a vent cap with a hinged damper that is flapping. It can also be inside where you can't see it, like a bath fan right at the exhaust housing. A damper is supposed to easily open, so wind does get under them periodically with no harm done.

Your overall roof framing is structurally sound, please do not worry.

3onthetree, I am pretty sure it's not the vent. The bathroom is off of this room and we just installed a new fan with vent and cap - separate room.

I was able to get more detailed closer photos of the hanging system and construction of the vault area. I did see what appear to be a few loose backing up nails on one hanger (in photo). But I am not an expert at all in how vaulted ceilings are constructed or how they were done in the 90's. Any thoughts? All the pics are taken at various angles over the vaulted system. Thanks again!

There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary with your trusses or the vaulted/tray portion. You are being pushed into worrying about some sort of structural compromise here and on the other site you posted. The noise is not indicative of anything structural to worry about, I don't know what else to say to relieve you of this notion. Just the fact that it is only from strong gusts tells you it is just blowing something delicate that is not attached, or not supposed to be, and will go away once the wind does.

I suggest staying in the attic until you find the culprit. The flapping noise can also be a vinyl or aluminum soffit panel that is not interlocked or something, maybe even certain styles of gutter guards. The reason I say a vent damper (kitchen exhaust, bath exhaust, dryer exhaust, some furnace flues will have a cap, fresh air intake, gas fireplace exhaust) is because the first flapping noise in your video sounds like it opened wide, then bounced shut (the noise trailed off like an echo does) smaller and smaller until it was closed again.

This is encouraging thank you. I think the greatest concern would be the safety factor but I am glad to know that nothing jumps out as worrisome. Your right, only in strong gusts do I get the wood crackling sound. Both forums have been such a wealth of information and knowledge and I am grateful for the help.

I will get back up there with the next heavy wind and see if I cannot pinpoint it. I was up when it was windy prior and I "think" I could hear some minor clicking but not nearly to the degree down in the bedroom. I wonder if the sound travels down the boards and amplifies it.