Monroe County, WV Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Monroe County, WV: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Monroe County's roofs are built to hold 20 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. 17.5 psf is what the ground-load formula alone gives; Monroe County's 20 psf low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) beats it, so that figure is the one that governs on flat and low-pitch roofs.
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.
Monroe County at a glance
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map25 psf
- National rank#1,065 of 2,758
- West Virginia rank#25 of 34
- Population12,462
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal24 in.
- FIPS54063
Monroe County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,065 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 39%; within West Virginia alone, Monroe County ranks #25 of 34. Monroe County's figure lands almost exactly on West Virginia's own county-average of 20 psf.
Monroe County, FIPS 54063, is home to 12,462 people near 37.5541°N 80.5503°W. Its 25 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Monroe County's snowfall, most winters
24 in. a year: that's Monroe County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at UNION 3 SSE, WV US (1.2 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Monroe County's number
Treat the Monroe 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.