Gage County, NE Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Gage County, NE: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Gage County's roofs are built to hold 20 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. §7.3.4's low-slope minimum of 20 psf is what actually governs on a flat or low-pitch roof here - higher than the 17.5 psf the base ground-load formula gives.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 44 inches of fresh, light snow, 16 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 4 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.
Gage County, NE: quick facts
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map25 psf
- National rank#938 of 2,758
- Nebraska rank#28 of 93
- Population21,687
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal19.7 in.
- FIPS31067
Gage County by the numbers
Nationally that's #938 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 34%; within Nebraska alone, Gage County ranks #28 of 93. 20.2 psf is Nebraska's typical county figure - Gage County comes in 0.2 psf under it.
Gage County, FIPS 31067, is home to 21,687 people near 40.2552°N 96.6835°W. Its 25 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Gage County's snowfall, most winters
19.7 in. a year: that's Gage County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at WYMORE, NE US (8.9 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Gage County's number
Treat the Gage 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.