Charleston, West Virginia – Snowfall has played a steady role in shaping winter across West Virginia this season, with the heaviest totals concentrated in the Appalachian highlands. From late September through early February, repeated cold systems have delivered consistent snow to higher elevations, while lower valleys have seen more limited accumulation.
According to the National Weather Service and NOAA’s National Snowfall Analysis, mountain areas of West Virginia have picked up between 2 and 8 feet of snow since Sept. 30. The highest seasonal totals are centered along the Allegheny Mountains, where elevation and upslope flow have repeatedly enhanced snowfall.
Communities such as Snowshoe, Canaan Valley, Elkins, and Richwood are near the upper end of the range, with snowpack persisting for much of the winter. These conditions have frequently slowed travel along Route 219, Corridor H, and secondary mountain roads, especially during overnight hours when refreeze is common.
Lower elevations, including Charleston, Huntington, and the Ohio River Valley, have generally seen lighter seasonal totals, often closer to one to two feet so far. Southern coalfield communities and river valleys have experienced more mixed precipitation events, limiting long-term snow accumulation.
The West Virginia Division of Highways continues to advise caution during mountain travel, noting that conditions can change quickly with elevation. With winter still ongoing, additional snow events could further increase seasonal totals in the high terrain, and more advisories may be issued as the season progresses.
