I had a first today . . .

[Bain]

. . . snow in an attic.

The roof was okay. All I could think of is that we've had so much snow and wind lately, the stuff made its way in through the turtle vent directly above it.

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[Rocon]

Questions:

How close to the ridge was the turtle vent?

Were the eves or dormers vented?

Why is there different insulation on the two sides of the attic?

Last month I was at the Las Vegas airport and got into a discussion with a ridge vent roofing materials rep about wind scour of insulation as well as snow drifting at ridges. (Do I know how to have a good time in Vegas or what?)

[Brad Manor]

I see snow in attics quite a bit around here. The wind will "nudge" it into the vent.

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-Brad

[John Dirks Jr]

Is that darkend insulation from being wet? You may have seen only a small bit of remaining snow. If so, I wonder how much was up there right after the storm.

[Erik]

Not enough soffit vents.

[Bain]

The snowfall in my area has been the heaviest since sometime back in the 1970s. I didn't measure, but the turtle vent was maybe a couple of feet away from the ridge. The house was +/-50 years old, so various owners have added insulation as they saw fit. Ventilaton was primarily provided by big gable louvers in the eaves.

Brad, cool diagram.

The rest of the insulation was dry, but I have no clue about how much snow was in the attic after the huge dumping that took place this past Monday.

[Mark P]

I've seen what Brad's diagram shows once in awhile. Brad where did you get that diagram?

[Brad Manor]

I've seen what Brad's diagram shows once in awhile. Brad where did you get that diagram?

It's from Carson Dunlop's Illustrated Home.

-B

[Ben H]

That is a cool diagram.

[Robert E Lee]

This condition is very common here in Minnesota, the little snow drifts melt as the weather warms up and the moisture evaporates away. I have never seen any damage from the snow that filters in from the roof vents.