Piscataquis County, ME Roof Snow Load - Case Study Area
Why doesn't Piscataquis County have a snow load number?
ASCE 7's own snow load map has no single figure for Piscataquis County: the terrain is complex enough that the code (§7.2) requires an elevation-specific study rather than a county-wide value. That is the map being accurate, not a data gap.
FIPS 23021, population 17,432. 386 US counties get this same case-study treatment; Piscataquis County is one of them.
Piscataquis County at a glance
- Population17,432
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal86.1 in.
- FIPS23021
Piscataquis County's snowfall, most winters
86.1 in. a year: that's Piscataquis County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at MILLINOCKET, ME US (26.5 mi away). 26.5 mi is a real gap between Piscataquis County and its nearest reporting station, so local snowfall can diverge from this figure, especially near elevation changes. See the density guide.
Before you rely on Piscataquis County's number
Treat the Piscataquis 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.