Nicholas County, KY Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Nicholas County, KY: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Nicholas County's roofs are built to hold 15 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. 10.5 psf is what the ground-load formula alone gives; Nicholas County's 15 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 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.
Nicholas County at a glance
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,576 of 2,758
- Kentucky rank#109 of 120
- Population7,816
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal8.8 in.
- FIPS21181
Nicholas County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,576 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 57%; within Kentucky alone, Nicholas County ranks #109 of 120. Kentucky counties average 15.7 psf; Nicholas County runs 0.7 psf lower than that.
Nicholas County, FIPS 21181, is home to 7,816 people near 38.338°N 84.0262°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Nicholas County's snowfall, most winters
8.8 in. a year: that's Nicholas County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at FLEMINGSBURG 2 N, KY US (17.6 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Nicholas County's number
Treat the Nicholas 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.