Morgantown, WV – Northern West Virginia may be heading toward one of its stronger setups for a white Christmas in several years, with new NOAA long-range outlooks showing a colder and wetter pattern developing from December 13–26 — the core holiday travel window across Appalachia.
According to NOAA, West Virginia sits within an “Above Normal” precipitation zone stretching from the Ohio Valley through the Mid-Atlantic. This suggests an active storm track capable of sending several systems across the state, many of which could bring accumulating snow if temperatures remain cold enough.
Temperature trends favor that outcome. Much of northern West Virginia — including Morgantown, Fairmont, and Clarksburg — falls within a “Leaning Below Normal” temperature corridor for the second half of December. This colder-than-average pattern is essential for the region, which often sits near the rain–snow transition line during early winter.
According to NOAA meteorologists, winters that combine increased moisture with below-normal temperatures typically see stronger white Christmas probabilities, especially in higher-elevation and interior areas. Northern West Virginia’s terrain, including the foothills of the Alleghenies, naturally supports colder air retention, which may further enhance snow chances this year.
Specific storms cannot yet be forecast, but meteorologists highlight the December 18–24 window as historically active for Appalachian winter storms. Any system during this time that taps into the colder air mass could produce travel delays along I-79, US-19, and surrounding routes.
Residents across northern West Virginia should monitor updated local forecasts beginning mid-December as forecasters gain better clarity on snowfall timing and accumulation potential.
