Sloped roof snow load: ps = 0.7 × Ce × Ct × Is × Cs × pg. Steeper roofs shed snow, so the slope factor Cs reduces the load. This is a preliminary balanced-load estimate only.
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Where do I find my ground snow load?
Your local building department publishes it, and ASCE 7 maps it nationally. It varies enormously over short distances in mountainous areas, so do not estimate it.
Does a steeper roof always carry less snow?
For balanced loads, yes, above the threshold slope. But steep roofs shed snow onto whatever is below, and drifting against walls, dormers and pitch transitions can produce local loads far higher than the uniform figure.
Is this enough for a structural design?
No. It covers the balanced case only. Drift, sliding, unbalanced and rain-on-snow loads frequently govern, and all of them need an engineer.
