West Virginia Annual Rainfall and Climate Data, see below for individual cities 

 

West Virginia city precipitation totals

City

Avg Annual Precip

Avg Annual Snow 

 Avg # days of Precip

Avg # thunderstorm days

 Avg # hail days Avg # severe thunderstorm watches per year Avg # tornado watches per year # of tornadoes reported in county, 1960-2010
Beckley 41.63 59.1 160 44 1 2 7 5
Charleston 44.05 33.5 151 45 2 2 8 7
Elkins 46.11 77.0 171 44 2 1 8 3
Huntington 42.31 25.2 140 42 1 3 9 1
  • West Virginia Annual Precipitation Average - 45.30", 17th wettest in the U.S.
  • West Virginia Tornado Average - 1.8 per year - 38th most in the U.S.
  • Largest reported Tornado in West Virginia from 1950-2011, 9/16/2010 - 500 yards / .28 miles wide
  • Date with highest number of reported Tornadoes in West Virginia from 1950-2011, June 2nd - 8 tornadoes
  • Average time of occurrence of reported Tornadoes in West Virginia from 1950-2011 - 3:42 pm
  • West Virginia Annual Lightning Density - 8.7 flashes per square mile - 21st highest in U.S.
  • Record Driest year in West Virginia from 1895-2012 - 1930, avg precipitation 25.74 inches 
  • Record Wettest year in West Virginia from 1895-2012 - 2003, avg precipitation 60.35 inches

West Virginia Precipitation Records 

  • Driest location ranked by lowest annual average precipitation: Moorefield, northeastern West Virginia, 32.88" 
  • Wettest location ranked by highest annual average precipitation: Pickens, northeastern West Virginia; 66.26"
  • Snowiest location ranked by highest annual average snowfall: Terra Alta, northern West Virginia, 157.8"
  • State precipitation record for 24 hours - Rockport, northwestern West Virginia, 7/18/1889, 19.00"
  • State precipitation record for 1 year - Romney, northeastern West Virginia, 1948, 94.01"
  • State snowfall record for 24 hours - Flat Top, southern West Virginia, 1/27-28/1998, 35.0"
  • State snow record for 1 season - Krumbrabow State Forest, central West Virginia, 1959-1960, 301.4"
  • West Virginia is one of the cloudiest states in the nation, with Beckley and Elkins in the Top 10, with 211 cloudy
    days per year
  • West Virginia temperature averages and extremes, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and
    interesting Top 10 U.S. climate extremes

Data sources: National Climatic Data Center, Severe thunderstorm / tornado watch data period is 1999 - 2008, NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Tornado climate data - NOAA Storm Prediction Center, State lightning flash density average - 1997-2011, Vaisala