McHenry County, ND Roof Snow Load - 28 psf

How much snow is too much for a roof in McHenry County, ND?

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.

McHenry County, ND: quick facts

• Design roof snow load28 psf
• Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map40 psf
• National rank#280 of 2,758
• North Dakota rank#21 of 49
• Population5,135
• Annual snowfall, NOAA normal49.4 in.
• FIPS38049

How McHenry County compares

28 psf ranks #280 of 2,758 US counties with a mapped snow load (top 10%) - and #21 of 49 in North Dakota. 29.4 psf is North Dakota's typical county figure - McHenry County comes in 1.4 psf under it.

Population 5,135 (FIPS 38049), roughly 48.2338°N 100.6333°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 McHenry County, ND

NOAA's 30-year normal for McHenry County: 49.4 in. of snow a year, from the UPHAM 3 N, ND US station. 26.7 mi is a real gap between McHenry County and its nearest reporting station, so local snowfall can diverge from this figure, especially near elevation changes. (fresh vs. packed vs. ice explains why.)

What this McHenry 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.

McHenry 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. See the methodology guide.