Severe duty with a snot plow is not because of lack of cooling - it's because of the high load on the engine pushing (normally very heavy) snow, continuously.
It's true that you need a thicker oil for low-RPM/high-load operations to maintain the minimum oil-film thickness (MOFT) for hydrodynamic lubrication. However, in footnote 1 the manual doesn't mention 15W-40 for severe-duty service, which is even thicker than 5W-40. They specifically recommend a synthetic oil for severe-duty service.
In any case severe duty is mostly a combination of high oil temperatures and high load, which are related.
High oil temperatures decrease oil life because of faster oxidation.
Severe duty is not limited to high loads and/or high temperatures. Here is the full list:
"Severe" duty conditions include any or any combination of the following:
• Excessive idling
• Frequent short trips in which the engine is shut-down before reaching full operating temperature
• Driving on dusty roads
• Driving off-road or in conditions that require 4 wheel drive
• Frequent towing or hauling (with the exception of very light loads)
• Using biodiesel blends greater than B5 (applies to oil, fuel filters only)
Engine oil
10W-30
Acceptable viscosity in ambient temps > 0° F
Preferred for normal usage
5W-40
Acceptable viscosity in ambient temps > -20° F
Trucks using biodiesel should use 15W-40 or 5W-40
Preferred if truck falls under "Severe Duty" service schedule
15W-40
Acceptable viscosity in ambient temps > 20° F
Trucks using biodiesel should use 15W-40 or 5W-40
0W-30/0W-40
Acceptable viscosity in all ambient temperatures
Recommended in extremely cold conditions only
http://www.powerstrokehub.com/6.7-power-stroke-maintenance.html