Quay County, NM Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Quay County, NM: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Quay County's roofs are built to hold 15 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. The physics-based figure alone would be 10.5 psf, but ASCE 7's own low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) sets a floor of 15 psf for flat and low-pitch roofs here, which is the number that actually governs.
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. Modern-code homes carry a load like this without issue; an older addition, a carport, or any flat-roofed section is where it is worth checking first.
Quay County, NM: quick facts
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,571 of 2,758
- New Mexico rank#3 of 27
- Population8,403
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal14.9 in.
- FIPS35037
Quay County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,571 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 57%; within New Mexico alone, Quay County ranks #3 of 27. 6.9 psf is New Mexico's typical county figure - Quay County beats it by 8.1 psf.
Quay County, FIPS 35037, is home to 8,403 people near 35.107°N 103.5481°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Quay County's snowfall, most winters
14.9 in. a year: that's Quay County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at TUCUMCARI 4 NE, NM US (10.2 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Quay County's number
Treat the Quay 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.