This past winter, we had a really bad storm where the winds gusted pretty high. On a couple of the peak gusts, the wind actually backdrafted our fireplace even though we had a strong fire going...is this normal?

The fireplace is a Firerock masonry unit, with a capped chiminey pot (Jack Arnold) and is well above the required height for code although not above the roof peak. The contractor initially stopped the chimney height at code but the plans had it another 2-3 feet above that and I held him to it. Actually, I think the chimney would have looked a bit odd if we had actually run it above the nearest ridge. That said, I do not think the winds were coming from a direction that would have raked across the roof ridge toward the chimney. Another environmental component is that our house is at the lower part of the surrounding topography as a very high ridge grades steeply down toward the lake we are on.

Any thoughts?