Benton County, MN Roof Snow Load - 35 psf
Benton County, MN: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Benton County's roofs are built to hold 35 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 77 inches of fresh, light snow, 28 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 7 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 serious structural load - older homes built before modern snow-load provisions, or ones with low-slope or flat roof sections, are worth having checked.
Benton County, MN: quick facts
- Design roof snow load35 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map50 psf
- National rank#129 of 2,758
- Minnesota rank#49 of 87
- Population41,881
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal47.9 in.
- FIPS27009
Benton County by the numbers
Nationally that's #129 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 5%; within Minnesota alone, Benton County ranks #49 of 87. Minnesota counties average 37.4 psf; Benton County runs 2.4 psf lower than that.
Benton County, FIPS 27009, is home to 41,881 people near 45.7012°N 94.0014°W. Its 50 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 35 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Benton County's snowfall, most winters
47.9 in. a year: that's Benton County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at ST CLOUD RGNL AP, MN US (11.2 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Benton County's number
Treat the Benton 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.