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Unbalanced snow distribution is one of the main reasons for the collapse of multi-span arch roofs due to excessive snow loads in the valley and leeward areas. The formation of uneven snowdrifts is closely related to the shape of the building as it seriously affects the turbulent structure and snow drifting process. This study aims to investigate the snowdrift characteristics of multi-span arch roofs based on a multiphase snowdrift approach. Firstly, the prediction accuracy of the flow field is tested to select a reasonable turbulence model. Then, the reliability of this multiphase approach is validated by comparing the results with a wind tunnel experiment of snowdrifts on a multi-span arch roof. The result preliminarily proves that this approach could well reproduce the unbalanced snowdrift on each span roof and at the trough. The snowdrift characteristics of multi-span arch roofs are investigated under different rise/span ratio and span number conditions based on the validated approach. The formation mechanism and characteristics of snowdrifts on different roofs are clarified by analysis. Finally, several typical distribution patterns are derived based on the statistical analysis of results. It is found that the middle-span roof bears a larger snow load than the roofs at both ends. • The paper proposes a multiphase approach that could accurately predict the snowdrifts on arch roofs. • The multiphase approach could well reproduce the snow drifting process and the sliding effect at roof edge. • Two kinds of unbalanced triangular snow loads are formed on the single-span arch roof according to the rise/span ratio. • The stacking snow load at the trough of the multi-span roof is about twice the peak snow load of the single-span roof. • The middle-span arch roof bears a larger snow load than the roofs at both ends of the multi-span building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]