Anchorage researcher to discuss results of snow load survey
Julie Stricker
907-474-5406
Dec. 2, 2025
Shoveling snow from roofs, like this one in Anchorage, is a safety measure in heavy snow loads.
A recent survey shows 70% of Anchorage residents are concerned about heavy snow loads on roofs, and a significant number are hiring help to address these concerns.
In a webinar hosted by the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, Jennifer Schmidt, associate professor of natural resource management and policy at the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Â鶹¹ÙÍø, will discuss the results of the survey.
Increased amounts of heavy snow and rain on snow at high latitudes are placing a burden on communities and infrastructure. In 2023-2024, 24 buildings in Anchorage collapsed under the weight of snow, resulting in one fatality.
Schmidt surveyed 421 Anchorage-area households and found widespread concerns. Results of a business survey are also being compiled.
The decision to issue warnings to clear snow from roofs is difficult because most snow-monitoring stations are in nearby mountains, not in the population centers where people live and own businesses. This project identified just one urban snow monitoring station in Anchorage; more are needed to correlate snow on the ground with snow loads on roofs.
Schmidt will share the survey results in a free webinar at noon on Dec. 10. Register using the or visit .
For more information, contact Molly Johansson at 907-786-6313 or mjohansson@alaska.edu.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION — Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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