Russell County, VA Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Russell County, VA: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Russell 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.
Russell County, VA: quick facts
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,438 of 2,758
- Virginia rank#87 of 110
- Population25,420
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal38.4 in.
- FIPS51167
Russell County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,438 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 52%; within Virginia alone, Russell County ranks #87 of 110. Virginia counties average 18.3 psf; Russell County runs 3.3 psf lower than that.
Russell County, FIPS 51167, is home to 25,420 people near 36.9334°N 82.0959°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Russell County's snowfall, most winters
38.4 in. a year: that's Russell County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at CLINTWOOD 1W, VA US (26.3 mi away). Worth noting: the nearest station reporting snowfall normals sits 26.3 mi from Russell County's center, so treat this as a regional figure rather than an exact one. See the density guide.
Before you rely on Russell County's number
Treat the Russell 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.