Benson County, ND Roof Snow Load - 28 psf

Benson County, ND: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English

In depth, not weight: that's roughly 61.6 inches of fresh, light snow, 22.4 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 5.6 inches of solid ice - snow that heavy is rare here but ice from a freeze-thaw cycle adds up far faster than the depth suggests. This is a meaningful design load - most modern-code homes handle it fine, though an addition, a carport or a flat-roofed section can be a weak spot.

Benson County in numbers

• Design roof snow load28 psf
• Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map40 psf
• National rank#277 of 2,758
• North Dakota rank#19 of 49
• Population5,756
• Annual snowfall, NOAA normal33.5 in.
• FIPS38005

Benson County by the numbers

Nationally that's #277 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 10%; within North Dakota alone, Benson County ranks #19 of 49. North Dakota counties average 29.4 psf; Benson County runs 1.4 psf lower than that.

Benson County, FIPS 38005, is home to 5,756 people near 48.0717°N 99.3512°W. Its 40 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 28 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.

Benson County's snowfall, most winters

33.5 in. a year: that's Benson County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at FESSENDEN, ND US (32 mi away). Worth noting: the nearest station reporting snowfall normals sits 32 mi from Benson County's center, so treat this as a regional figure rather than an exact one. See the density guide.

Before you rely on Benson County's number

Treat the Benson County figure as a starting point, not a final answer: it assumes standard occupancy, a heated structure and a moderately sheltered site, per ASCE 7-22's own defaults. Exposed terrain, an unheated building or a steeper roof all shift the real number.

For a real application, skip the county number and go straight to the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool - enter your coordinates and it returns a site-specific figure a plan reviewer will recognize. Details: the calculation guide.