A Legacy Snow Load Dataset: Long‑Term Measurements of Roof and Ground Snow Loads in Norway

This dataset contains long-term full-scale measurements of roof and ground snow loads collected on buildings in Norway between 1966 and 1986. The measurements were originally carried out by Professor H. Høibø and include windward and leeward roof snow loads, ground snow loads, snow densities, roof geometry, exposure descriptors, and temporal information (year and week).

The dataset has been digitised, curated, and standardised from original paper records and legacy files. Buildings have been geolocated through meticulous review of archival measurement notes, supported by historical aerial imagery, and supplemented with elevation above mean sea level derived from national height data services. Metadata fields document data completeness and confidence in building identification and location.

The dataset provides rare empirical evidence underpinning snow-load models and international design standards, including ISO 4355 and EN 1991-1-3, and is suitable for reuse in snow-load modelling, structural reliability analysis, validation of numerical and experimental snow-drift studies, and climate-sensitive assessments of snow loads