Independence County, AR Roof Snow Load - 10 psf
Independence County, AR: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Independence County's roofs are built to hold 10 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. §7.3.4's low-slope minimum of 10 psf is what actually governs on a flat or low-pitch roof here - higher than the 7 psf the base ground-load formula gives.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 22 inches of fresh, light snow, 8 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 2 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. Standard residential construction handles a load this size without extra bracing; it is a modest addition on top of ordinary roof loading.
Snow on Independence County's roofs right now?
Independence County at a glance
- Design roof snow load10 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map10 psf
- National rank#1,808 of 2,758
- Arkansas rank#21 of 75
- Population38,345
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal2.2 in.
- FIPS05063
Independence County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,808 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 66%; within Arkansas alone, Independence County ranks #21 of 75. 10.1 psf is Arkansas's typical county figure - Independence County comes in 0.1 psf under it.
Independence County, FIPS 05063, is home to 38,345 people near 35.7375°N 91.5599°W. Its 10 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 10 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Independence County's snowfall, most winters
2.2 in. a year: that's Independence County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at BATESVILLE L&D 1, AR US (4.6 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Independence County's number
Treat the Independence 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.