Hand County, SD Roof Snow Load - 28 psf

How much snow is too much for a roof in Hand County, SD?

Picture it, not just weigh it: 61.6 in. if it's fresh powder, 22.4 in. once it settles, or a mere 5.6 in. if it's ice. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.

Hand County, SD: quick facts

• Design roof snow load28 psf
• Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map40 psf
• National rank#288 of 2,758
• South Dakota rank#36 of 65
• Population3,097
• Annual snowfall, NOAA normal43.7 in.
• FIPS46059

How Hand County compares

28 psf ranks #288 of 2,758 US counties with a mapped snow load (top 10%) - and #36 of 65 in South Dakota. 28.2 psf is South Dakota's typical county figure - Hand County comes in 0.2 psf under it.

Population 3,097 (FIPS 46059), roughly 44.5467°N 99.0046°W. The 40 psf ground snow load ASCE 7-22 maps here becomes 28 psf once the code's own design factors are applied.

Typical snowfall in Hand County, SD

NOAA's 30-year normal for Hand County: 43.7 in. of snow a year, from the MILLER, SD US station. (fresh vs. packed vs. ice explains why.)

What this Hand County figure assumes

This is a county-level reference figure for a typical heated home built to Risk Category II (ordinary residential), on a partially exposed lot - the assumptions ASCE 7-22 itself treats as the default case. A steeper roof, a fully exposed hilltop lot, an unheated structure, or a higher risk category all change the actual number.

Hand County's permit office wants an address-specific figure, not this county average - the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool is free, takes under a minute, and outputs a PDF most reviewers accept. Details: the calculation guide.