Wells County, ND Roof Snow Load - 24.5 psf
Wells County, ND: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Wells County's roofs are built to hold 24.5 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 53.9 inches of fresh, light snow, 19.6 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 4.9 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.
Wells County in numbers
- Design roof snow load24.5 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map35 psf
- National rank#367 of 2,758
- North Dakota rank#37 of 49
- Population3,803
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal33.5 in.
- FIPS38103
Wells County by the numbers
Nationally that's #367 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 13%; within North Dakota alone, Wells County ranks #37 of 49. North Dakota counties average 29.4 psf; Wells County runs 4.9 psf lower than that.
Wells County, FIPS 38103, is home to 3,803 people near 47.5809°N 99.6822°W. Its 35 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 24.5 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Wells County's snowfall, most winters
33.5 in. a year: that's Wells County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at FESSENDEN, ND US (5.3 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Wells County's number
Treat the Wells 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.