Copper River Census Area, AK Snow Load: Case Study Area
Why doesn't Copper River Census Area have a snow load number?
ASCE 7's own snow load map has no single figure for Copper River Census Area: the terrain is complex enough that the code (§7.2) requires an elevation-specific study rather than a county-wide value. That is the map being accurate, not a data gap.
FIPS 02066, population 2,631. 386 US counties get this same case-study treatment; Copper River Census Area is one of them.
Copper River Census Area at a glance
- Population2,631
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal48.4 in.
- FIPS02066
Copper River Census Area's snowfall, most winters
48.4 in. a year: that's Copper River Census Area's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at SILVER LAKE, AK US (36.8 mi away). Worth noting: the nearest station reporting snowfall normals sits 36.8 mi from Copper River Census Area's center, so treat this as a regional figure rather than an exact one. See the density guide.
Before you rely on Copper River Census Area's number
Treat the Copper River Census Area 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. See the methodology guide.