Pierce County, NE Roof Snow Load - 21 psf
Pierce County, NE: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Pierce County's roofs are built to hold 21 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 46.2 inches of fresh, light snow, 16.8 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 4.2 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. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.
Pierce County at a glance
- Design roof snow load21 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map30 psf
- National rank#474 of 2,758
- Nebraska rank#7 of 93
- Population7,334
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal30 in.
- FIPS31139
Pierce County by the numbers
Nationally that's #474 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 17%; within Nebraska alone, Pierce County ranks #7 of 93. Nebraska counties average 20.2 psf; Pierce County runs 0.8 psf higher than that.
Pierce County, FIPS 31139, is home to 7,334 people near 42.2714°N 97.611°W. Its 30 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 21 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Pierce County's snowfall, most winters
30 in. a year: that's Pierce County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at PIERCE, NE US (7 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Pierce County's number
Treat the Pierce 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.