Special features of the collection and analysis of snow loads

The paper deals with some special features of the assessment of snow loads for the probabilistic or semi-probabilistic partial factor design of structures. Particularly, the determination of daily water equivalent of snow cover and an implementation of the observed trend due to climate changes are addressed. The performance of developed procedures is checked by comparisons of characteristic values of snow loads on the ground and by the measurements of daily snow water equivalent carried out intentionally for this purpose in the first four months of the year 2007.