Howell County, MO Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Howell County, MO: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Howell County's roofs are built to hold 15 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. Flat and low-pitch roofs in Howell County are actually governed by ASCE 7's §7.3.4 minimum of 15 psf, not the 10.5 psf the ground-load formula alone would produce.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 33 inches of fresh, light snow, 12 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 3 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.
Got real snow on a Howell County roof right now?
Howell County at a glance
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,395 of 2,758
- Missouri rank#92 of 115
- Population40,762
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal3.6 in.
- FIPS29091
Howell County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,395 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 51%; within Missouri alone, Howell County ranks #92 of 115. 18.6 psf is Missouri's typical county figure - Howell County comes in 3.6 psf under it.
Howell County, FIPS 29091, is home to 40,762 people near 36.7744°N 91.8874°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Howell County's snowfall, most winters
3.6 in. a year: that's Howell County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at SILOAM SPRINGS 1E, MO US (9.6 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Howell County's number
Treat the Howell 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.