West Virginia, 2005

Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 15, 2005

December 15, 2005 · NWS RLX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

1 ice storm, 1 heavy snow, as filed by the National Weather Service.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 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 Dec 14, 6:58 PM EST, 18 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 14, 6:58 PM EST, 18 hours 2 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 14, 4:59 PM EST, 20 hours 1 minute before
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Event by event

1 ice storm, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Fayette

When
December 15, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT

A quarter to a half inch of ice accumulated from freezing rain. The freezing rain began near 0600E and disrupted the morning commute to work and school. The foreman for the state highway department said, "It was as slick as it gets." The ice did not cause any major damage to trees or power lines.

Heavy Snow, Pocahontas

When
December 15, 5:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong southeast wind kept cold air along the eastern slopes. The snow began near dawn on the 15th. Snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches were measured.

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
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

More

Every storm in West Virginia in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, December 2005

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5481809, 5481808.