Charleston, W.Va. – Summer 2025 will be remembered as one of the hottest on record across West Virginia, with four cities in the National Weather Service Charleston forecast area ranking among their warmest summers ever recorded. Average temperatures ran 1 to 3 degrees above normal, pushing Elkins into its second warmest summer and Huntington into its fourth.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, precipitation was more uneven, with totals ranging from 7 to 9 inches in southern Ohio and northeast Kentucky to nearly 20 inches in the lowlands of West Virginia. Clarksburg finished more than 5 inches above normal, while Beckley and Huntington ran 3 to 4 inches drier than usual. Despite these swings, no location landed in the top 10 for either wettest or driest summer.
The heat brought multiple days in the 90s across the region. Huntington peaked at 96 degrees on June 24, while Charleston matched with a 95-degree high. Overnight lows also ran warmer, limiting relief and contributing to elevated stress on residents without cooling access.
Officials advise residents to prepare for more extreme heat events by checking on vulnerable neighbors, maintaining hydration, and limiting strenuous activity during peak afternoon hours. Additional seasonal outlooks are expected later this month as fall approaches.
