Alaska Snow Loads

Snow load data is provided in the map below for specific locations in Alaska.

These values are provided in two formats:

  • 50-yr MRI values for use with ASCE 7-16 and earlier

  • Reliability-targeted values sorted by risk category for ASCE 7-22

Alaska Snow Loads

Alaska Snow Loads

Snow Load Design Criteria for Alaskan Locations
City/Town Elevation (ft) Ground Snow Load, pg1,2  (lb/ft2) W2
Winter Wind Parameter6
50yr MRI Load4
(use with ASCE 7-16 and earlier)		 Reliability-Targed Loads5
(ASCE 7-22 and later)
Risk Category
I II III IV
Adak 100 25 32 40 46 50 0.7
Anchorage/Eagle River3 500 50 64 80 92 100 0.2
Arctic Village 2,100 30 38 48 55 60 0.2
Bethel 100 40 51 64 74 80 0.7
Bettles 700 80 102 128 147 160 0.2
Cantwell 2,100 85 109 136 156 170 0.3
Cold Bay 100 35 45 56 64 70 0.8
Cordova 100 100 128 160 184 200 0.3
Deadhorse 100 25 32 40 46 50 0.6
Delta Junction 400 40 51 64 74 80 0.5
Dillingham 100 110 141 176 202 220 0.5
Emmonak 100 100 128 160 184 200 0.7
Fairbanks 1200 60 77 96 110 120 0.1
Fort Yukon 400 50 64 80 92 100 0.2
Galena 200 60 77 96 110 120 0.3
Girdwood 200 140 179 224 258 280 0.2
Glennallen 1,400 45 58 72 83 90 0.2
Haines 100 185 237 296 340 370 0.7
Holy Cross 100 120 154 192 221 240 0.2
Homer3 500 45 58 72 83 90 0.5
Iliamna 200 80 102 128 147 160 0.5
Juneau 100 70 90 112 129 140 0.5
Kaktovik 100 45 58 72 83 90 0.6
Kenai/Soldotna 200 65 83 104 120 130 0.4
Ketchikan 100 30 38 48 55 60 0.5
Kobuk 200 90 115 144 166 180 0.6
Kodiak 100 40 45 56 64 70 0.6
Kotzebue 100 60 77 96 110 120 0.6
McGrath 400 65 83 104 120 130 0.2
Nenana 400 75 96 120 138 150 0.2
Nikiski 200 80 102 128 147 160 0.4
Nome 100 70 90 112 129 140 0.6
Palmer/Wasilla 500 50 64 80 92 100 0.2
Petersburg 100 90 122 152 175 190 0.2
Point Hope 100 45 58 72 83 90 0.6
Saint Lawrence Island 100 95 122 152 175 190 0.8
Saint Paul Island 100 40 51 64 74 80 0.9
Seward 100 60 77 96 110 120 0.5
Sitka 100 50 64 80 92 100 0.4
Talkeetna 400 120 154 192 221 240 0.2
Tok 1,700 35 45 56 64 70 0.2
Umiat 300 30 38 48 55 60 0.2
Unalakleet 100 35 45 56 64 70 0.7
Unalaska 100 75 96 120 138 150 0.6
Utqiaġvik (Barrow) 100 25 32 40 46 50 0.6
Valdez 100 160 205 256 294 320 0.3
Wainwright 100 25 32 40 46 50 0.6
Whittier 100 270 346 432 497 540 0.3
Willow 300 80 102 128 147 160 0.2
Yakutat 100 140 179 224 258 280 0.3

Table Notes:

  1. Statutory requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction are not included in this state ground snow load table.

  2. Unless otherwise noted, for locations where there is substantial change in altitude over the city/town, the load applies at and below the cited elevation, with a tolerance of 100 ft (30 m).

  3. For locations in Anchorage/Eagle River and Homer above the cited elevation, the ground snow load shall be increased by 7.0 lb/ft2 for every 100 ft above the cited elevation.

  4. Values based on 2019 SEAAK whitepaper linked below as '50-yr MRI Alaska Snow Loads for 2022 Update of ASCE 7'.

  5. Loads based on 2020 SEAAK whitepaper linked below as 'Reliability Targeted Alaska Ground Snow Loads for the 2022 Edition of the ASCE 7 Standard'.

  6. Used in ASCE 7-22 to determine drifting and unbalanced snow loads.

General Info on snow and ice

Presentation on roof ice dams and structural snow loads

Presented by Dr. Scott Hamel with UAA

Alaska Snow Loads Background and Research

Provisional Snow Loads for additional alaska locations

For additional locations, check out the following document which contains provisional snow load data at specific weather stations throughout the state:

AK Snow Station Data (excel)

Caution: This document presents the results from raw station data filtered through the statistical analysis approach outlined in the whitepapers below. It has not been peer reviewed and as such may contain errors and discrepancies.

Engineering judgement is required to verify accuracy of this data.

50-yr mri information

Design snow loads are based on 50-yr MRI values in ASCE 7-16 and earlier.

UAA/SEAAK research provides the latest info on these loads:

Reliability-Targeted information

Starting with the ASCE 7-22 code, ground snow load values are reported in reliability-targeted format with individual values given for each Risk Category.

Alaska Loads in ASCE 7-22 are based on a conversion of the 50-yr MRI values as outlined in the following document:

Winter Windiness Parameter (W2)

ASCE 7-22 introduced the Winter Windiness Parameter (W2) for calculating snow drifting.

W2 values for Alaska are given in ASCE 7-22 Table 7.2-1 along with the map above.

For estimating W2 at additional locations in Alaska, see the following document:

NOAA Weather Station Data

Details and up-to-date climate data for NOAA weather stations in Alaska can be found here:

Other Alaska Snow Load Documents: