Foster County, ND Roof Snow Load - 28 psf
Foster County, ND: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Foster County's roofs are built to hold 28 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
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. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.
Already snow on the roof in Foster County?
Foster County in numbers
- Design roof snow load28 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map40 psf
- National rank#287 of 2,758
- North Dakota rank#26 of 49
- Population3,323
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal34.6 in.
- FIPS38031
Foster County by the numbers
Nationally that's #287 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 10%; within North Dakota alone, Foster County ranks #26 of 49. That's 1.4 psf below North Dakota's own county-average design load of 29.4 psf.
Foster County, FIPS 38031, is home to 3,323 people near 47.4714°N 98.8729°W. Its 40 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 28 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Foster County's snowfall, most winters
34.6 in. a year: that's Foster County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at COURTENAY 1 NW, ND US (20.9 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Foster County's number
Treat the Foster 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. See the methodology guide.