Hampden County, MA Roof Snow Load - 24.5 psf
Hampden County, MA: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Hampden County's roofs are built to hold 24.5 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 53.9 inches of fresh, light snow, 19.6 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 4.9 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. Modern-code homes carry a load like this without issue; an older addition, a carport, or any flat-roofed section is where it is worth checking first.
Hampden County, MA: quick facts
- Design roof snow load24.5 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map35 psf
- National rank#305 of 2,758
- Massachusetts rank#9 of 14
- Population464,151
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal51.7 in.
- FIPS25013
Hampden County by the numbers
Nationally that's #305 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 11%; within Massachusetts alone, Hampden County ranks #9 of 14. Massachusetts counties average 27.6 psf; Hampden County runs 3.1 psf lower than that.
Hampden County, FIPS 25013, is home to 464,151 people near 42.1362°N 72.6356°W. Its 35 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 24.5 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Hampden County's snowfall, most winters
51.7 in. a year: that's Hampden County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at HARTFORD BRADLEY INTL AP, CT US (13.9 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Hampden County's number
Treat the Hampden 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.