Heavy Snow in West Virginia, January 6 to 7, 2002

Name: Heavy Snow in West Virginia, January 6 to 7, 2002
Start: 2002-01-06T07:00
End: 2002-01-07T18:00
Location: West Virginia

January 6 to 7, 2002 · NWS RLX · 31 events in 31 counties and zones

A quick moving storm moved through the southeastern states on Sunday the 6th, bringing heavy wet snow. A lull occurred by late in the day.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 25 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 31

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.

A quick moving storm moved through the southeastern states on Sunday the 6th, bringing heavy wet snow. A lull occurred by late in the day. Snow and snow showers redeveloped again late Sunday night and continued on Monday, the 7th, especially across the mountainous counties. It was the first significant snow storm of the 2001-02 winter season. In some of the western lowland counties, it was the heaviest snow since 1996. No snow cover existed prior to the storm in the lowlands. The snow accumulated from 3 inches in the valleys to around 8 inches on the hilltops across the western lowlands. Maximum snow depths were 7 inches on the hills at Charleston, also 7 inches at West Union and Oak hill, 5 inches at Glenville and Logan, and 4 inches at Clarksburg. Across the mountainous counties, snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 7 inches in the valleys to around a foot over the mountain ridges. For example, the snow depth at Kumbrabow State Forest went from 4 inches prior to the storm to 16 inches. At Snowshoe the snow depth went from an inch to 14 inches. Mount Nebo saw their snow depth increase from an inch to eleven inches. Elkins had 7 inches, while Beckley had 5 inches of snow accumulation. An indirect death occurred in Charleston. A 55 year old man died, after shoveling snow from his driveway. A few power outages occurred in the western lowlands. Most schools were closed on the 7th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 6, 3:30 AM EST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 6, 3:30 AM EST, 3 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
330 AM EST SUN JAN 6 2002

TODAY THROUGH MONDAY...
WINTER STORM IS SHAPING UP AS SFC LOW CONTINUES TO DEEPEN IN
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI ATTM.  MAIN PRECIP SHIELD EXTENDING INTO
CENTRAL TENNESSEE AND WESTERN KENTUCKY.  PRECIP TYPE CHANGED OVER TO
SNOW AT KPAH LAST HR AS WET BULB PROCESSES LIKELY OCCURRING.  MODELS
CONTINUE TO AGREE ON TRACK OF SYSTEM...TAKING SFC LOW THROUGH
CENTRAL GA INTO CAROLINAS AND THEN UP EAST COAST.  BEST LIFT OCCURS
AROUND 18Z WITH BULLSEYE CENTERED OVER SOUTHERN MTNS OF WVA.  TIMING
OF PRECIPITATION IS ON TRACK AS KLEX REPORTED MIXED PRECIP AT 07Z.
THINK SNOW WILL FIRST FALL OVER SOUTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHEAST
KENTUCKY COUNTIES AND THEN MAKES ITS WAY INTO CENTRAL CWA AND MTNS.
MODEL QPF STILL ON TRACK TO GIVE MTNS 4-8 INCHES...2-5 INCHES WEST
OF MTNS.  WILL UPGRADE WATCH TO WARNING AND BREAK OFF POCAHONTAS
COUNTY TO MENTION HIGHER TOTALS (5 TO 10 INCHES) DUE TO THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS.  HAVE ALSO DECIDED TO INCREASE CLARKSBURG GROUP TOTALS
TO MATCH CRW AS UPSLOPE SNOW TONIGHT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO PUT THEM IN
3-5 RANGE.

SYSTEM ACCELERATES AS IT MOVES THROUGH AND WILL PULL OUT OVERNIGHT
LEAVING SNOW SHOWERS IN ITS WAKE.  ADDITIONAL LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS
ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT.  SHSN WILL DIMINISH DURING DAY MONDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS INTO REGION.  TEMPS LOOK PRETTY GOOD FOR TODAY WITH
HIGHS OCCURRING EARLY AND REMAINING NEARLY STEADY OR SLOWLY FALLING
THIS AFTERNOON.  FWC LOOKS TO WARM AND WILL CUT A COUPLE OF
DEGREES.  WILL LOWER TEMPS A BIT ON MONDAY AS SNOW PACK...CLOUDS...
AND CAA SHOULD PROVIDE FOR COOLER TEMPS THAN TODAY.  WILL AGAIN CUT
MOS A TAD.

MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...
A WARMING TREND TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY BEFORE ANOTHER COLD FRONT
DROPS THROUGH THE AREA BY THURSDAY MORNING.  SHOWERS AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOLLOWED BY SNOW SHOWERS THURSDAY INTO
FRIDAY WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES.  NOT MUCH MOISTURE TO WORK WITH ON
THIS SYSTEM...SO AMOUNTS WILL BE LIGHT.

THANKS TO JKL...ILN...AND PIT FOR LOCAL COORDINATION AND ALL OTHERS
ON MEET-ME CONFERENCE CALL.

.RLX...
WV...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES
WVZ033>038...WVZ047.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONE WVZ046.

VA...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES
VAZ003>004.

WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES
WVZ005>011-013>020-024>032-039-040

KY...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES
KYZ101>103-105.

OH...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES
OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087.

.END/HC/JMV

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

31 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Barbour

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Barbour forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.133, -80.003 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Boone

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.023, -81.711 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Braxton

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Braxton forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.700, -80.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Calhoun

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.845, -81.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Clay

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.463, -81.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Doddridge

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Doddridge forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.269, -80.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Gilmer

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Gilmer forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.924, -80.857 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Harrison

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.284, -80.380 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Jackson

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.835, -81.675 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Kanawha

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Kanawha forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.337, -81.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lewis

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Lewis forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.996, -80.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lincoln

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.175, -82.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Logan

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.832, -81.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Mingo

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Mingo forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.726, -82.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Putnam

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.509, -81.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ritchie

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Ritchie forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.178, -81.063 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Roane

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Roane forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.714, -81.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Taylor

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.336, -80.046 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Tyler

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Tyler forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.465, -80.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Upshur

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Upshur forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.898, -80.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wayne

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.146, -82.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wirt

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Wirt forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.022, -81.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wood

When: January 6, 7:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Wood forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.211, -81.515 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Fayette

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, McDowell

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: McDowell forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.379, -81.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Nicholas

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, Pocahontas

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, Raleigh

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, Randolph

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, Webster

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, Wyoming

When: January 6, 8:00 AM EST to January 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.610, -81.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, January 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5276704, 5276705, 5276706, 5276707, 5276708, 5276709, 5276710, 5276711, 5276712, 5276713, 5276714, 5276715, 5276716, 5276717, 5276718, 5276719, 5276720, 5276721, 5276722, 5276723, 5276724, 5276725, 5276800, 5276696, 5276697, 5276698, 5276699, 5276700, 5276701, 5276702, 5276703.