Hitchcock County, NE Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Hitchcock County, NE: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Hitchcock County's roofs are built to hold 20 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. The physics-based figure alone would be 17.5 psf, but ASCE 7's own low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) sets a floor of 20 psf for flat and low-pitch roofs here, which is the number that actually governs.
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. This is a meaningful design load - most modern-code homes handle it fine, though an addition, a carport or a flat-roofed section can be a weak spot.
Hitchcock County, NE: quick facts
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map25 psf
- National rank#1,269 of 2,758
- Nebraska rank#74 of 93
- Population2,460
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal19.7 in.
- FIPS31087
Hitchcock County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,269 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 46%; within Nebraska alone, Hitchcock County ranks #74 of 93. Nebraska counties average 20.2 psf; Hitchcock County runs 0.2 psf lower than that.
Hitchcock County, FIPS 31087, is home to 2,460 people near 40.1769°N 101.0442°W. Its 25 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Hitchcock County's snowfall, most winters
19.7 in. a year: that's Hitchcock County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at STRATTON, NE US (9.9 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Hitchcock County's number
Treat the Hitchcock 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.