Drought in West Virginia, April 1 to 30, 2026

Name: Drought in West Virginia, April 1 to 30, 2026
Start: 2026-04-01T00:00
End: 2026-04-30T23:59
Location: West Virginia

April 1 to 30, 2026 · NWS RLX · 40 events in 40 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 40 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: 40

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.

The month of April began with abnormally dry conditions (D0) in the southern part of West Virginia as well as a portion of the northeast mountains. D0 expanded across much of the area by the second week of the month, while portions of the northeast mountains and southern WV degraded to moderate drought (D1). Further degradation occurred for the third week of the month, with D1 spreading into all but Wood and Pleasants Counties, and severe drought (D2) developing in McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming, eastern Boone, southern Fayette, southeast Kanawha, eastern Logan, eastern Mingo, eastern Webster, and much of Pocahontas and Randolph counties. By the last week of the month, D2 expanded to encompass more of eastern WV, including Fayette, McDowell, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Wyoming, southeast Braxton, eastern Logan, eastern Mingo, southern Upshur, and much of Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Randolph, and Webster counties. Meanwhile, only minor expansions of D1 and D0 occurred in the northwest part of the state.

A half inch to an inch of rain fell across much of the area during the first week of April, though there were some pockets of up to an inch. Little to no rain accumulated in the second week. Rain totals for the third week ranged from an inch or less in the mountains and north-central WV to half an inch or less in west and southwest WV. The last week once again had rainfall accumulations between half and one and a half inches with pockets around two inches. Nevertheless, rounds of precipitation did not achieve high enough amounts or long enough duration to impede the ongoing drought.

All six climate sites in West Virginia registered below normal precipitation for the month. Beckley was nearly two tenths of an inch below normal, Charleston and Clarksburg were between six and seven tenths of an inch below normal, and Huntington, Parkersburg, and Elkins ranged from one and a quarter to around one and an eighth inches below normal. Despite the overall dryness, enough rain fell on the 29th of the month to break the existing daily precipitation record at Charleston.

Impacts from the drought included hauling water for livestock, supplemental feeding for livestock due to slow pasture growth, and slow crop growth.

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 Mar 31, 10:46 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1) Showers and thunderstorms will be possible at times through Saturday, with best chances for more widespread activity on Wednesday.
2) A strong cold front brings cooler air back to the area for the end of the weekend into next week, with potential for frost or freezing conditions.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 10:46 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1146 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Some models show the cold front over the weekend coming in a bit
faster, more Saturday night than Sunday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Showers and thunderstorms will be possible at times through
  Saturday, with best chances for more widespread activity on
  Wednesday.

- 2) A strong cold front brings cooler air back to the area for
  the end of the weekend into next week, with potential for
  frost or freezing conditions.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

A cold front will push southward into central Ohio and northern
West Virginia Wednesday, before stalling, and then returning
northward as a warm front Wednesday night. This will create the
best chances for showers and thunderstorms for the work week.
Depending on cloud cover and how much heating can occur south of
the front, there is the possibility that a few thunderstorms
could become strong enough to produce damaging winds and/or
large hail.

A south to southwesterly flow will remain behind the
front for Thursday into Saturday. This will allow for more
showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and
evening hours.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

Models have diverged a bit on the timing of a strong cold front
that will will push through the region Saturday night or Sunday.
Some models are now showing a faster timing with the front
arriving Saturday night. Regardless, this will increase chances
of showers and thunderstorms while bringing cooler air for the
end of the weekend and into the next work week. This could set
the area up for the potential for frost or freezing conditions.

Models are now further north with a potential clipper system on
Tuesday. This could leave the area in warmer air, or with
precipitation possibly north of the area.

&&

.AVIATION /03Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Gusty southwesterly winds should generally decrease and become
lighter after 02Z, but there will be a period of LLWS developing
tonight, generally between 02Z to 10Z, and have coded this into
the TAF's. Gusty southwesterly winds, with gusts generally in
the teens, are possible again after 14Z Wednesday.

Otherwise, expecting mainly VFR conditions, but after 06Z,
there exists the possibility for showers, and perhaps an
isolated thunderstorm, to move south into the area, possibly
creating brief/localized MVFR conditions.

After 18Z, shower and storm activity is expected to increase in
coverage, with the potential for strong damaging wind gusts in
vicinity of storms, and local MVFR/IFR or worse conditions in
vicinity of storms. Convection should generally start to
decrease in coverage towards the end of the TAF period.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and intensity of showers and
thunderstorms and associated restrictions could vary. Extent of
LLWS tonight may also vary.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

DATE                                                                 WED
UTC 1HRLY       23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10
EDT 1HRLY       19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 06Z THURSDAY...
Brief IFR in showers and thunderstorms possible Wednesday
evening through Friday, more likely in the afternoon and
evening hours.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...None.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...RPY
AVIATION...SL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

40 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Barbour

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Barbour forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.133, -80.003 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Boone

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.023, -81.711 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Braxton

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Braxton forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.700, -80.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cabell

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Cabell forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.420, -82.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Calhoun

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.845, -81.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Clay

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.463, -81.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Doddridge

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Doddridge forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.269, -80.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Gilmer

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gilmer forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.924, -80.857 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Harrison

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.284, -80.380 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jackson

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.835, -81.675 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kanawha

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Kanawha forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.337, -81.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lewis

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Lewis forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.996, -80.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lincoln

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.175, -82.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Logan

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.832, -81.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mason

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Mason forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.770, -82.026 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, McDowell

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: McDowell forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.379, -81.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mingo

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Mingo forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.726, -82.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Fayette

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.029, -81.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Nicholas

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.292, -80.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Pocahontas

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.332, -80.008 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Raleigh

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.771, -81.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Randolph

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.775, -79.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northwest Webster

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Northwest Webster forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.495, -80.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pleasants

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Pleasants forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.371, -81.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Putnam

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.509, -81.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Ritchie

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Ritchie forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.178, -81.063 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Roane

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Roane forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.714, -81.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Fayette

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.029, -81.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Nicholas

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.292, -80.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Pocahontas

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.332, -80.008 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Raleigh

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.771, -81.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Randolph

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.775, -79.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southeast Webster

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Southeast Webster forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.495, -80.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Taylor

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.336, -80.046 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Tyler

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Tyler forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.465, -80.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Upshur

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Upshur forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.898, -80.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wayne

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.146, -82.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wirt

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Wirt forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.022, -81.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wood

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Wood forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 39.211, -81.515 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wyoming

When: April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.610, -81.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, April 2026

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1330441, 1330442, 1330443, 1330444, 1330445, 1330446, 1330447, 1330448, 1330449, 1330450, 1330451, 1330452, 1330453, 1330454, 1330455, 1330456, 1330457, 1330458, 1330459, 1330460, 1330461, 1330462, 1330463, 1330464, 1330465, 1330466, 1330467, 1330468, 1330469, 1330470, 1330471, 1330472, 1330473, 1330474, 1330475, 1330476, 1330477, 1330478, 1330479, 1330480.