Drought in West Virginia

Events

922

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$23 million

• Drought in West Virginia, July 1 to 31, 1997$12 million · 7 eventsA very dry month, containing one 7-day heat wave, exacerbated drought-like conditions across much of the fertile farmland of eastern West Virginia. The weather in July proved to be the death knell for much of the crop yields, including corn, hay, and pasture.
• Drought in West Virginia, August 1 to 31, 1999$7.0 million · 8 eventsHigh pressure was the dominant weather feature across the Eastern Panhandle through the 24th of August. Most rain producing storm systems steered north of the region through the period.
• Drought in West Virginia, October 1 to 22, 2019$3.0 million · 4 eventsAll four counties in southeast West Virginia covered by the NWS office in Blacksburg entered the severe drought classification (D2 on a scale from D0 to D4) on the October 1st issuance of the weekly U.S.
• Drought in West Virginia, October 1 to 31, 1998$310,000 · 4 eventsDry conditions started in July, subsided in August, started again in September, and continued through October. In most areas, crops were damaged or destroyed before a killing frost occurred. Water levels in creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes were fairly low.
• Drought in West Virginia, October 1 to 31, 202440 eventsOctober began with at least abnormally dry (D0) conditions touching every county in the state. The worst drought conditions (D3 to D4) covered portions of northern, western, and central West Virginia, while conditions gradually improved to the south and east.
• Drought in West Virginia, August 1 to 31, 202440 eventsAfter a quiet end to the month of July, exceptionally dry weather prevailed through the majority of August and attributed to a historical drought across West Virginia.
• Drought in West Virginia, November 1 to 30, 202440 eventsDrought conditions continued into November, with worst conditions (D4) spanning a strip of counties from Jackson to Webster.
• Drought in West Virginia, September 1 to 30, 202440 eventsAcross the bulk of West Virginia, severe (D2) to exceptional (D4) drought conditions carried over from August into the beginning of September.
• Drought in West Virginia, September 1 to 30, 202540 eventsFairly dry conditions were observed from late August into September, which resulted in at least abnormally dry conditions (D0) across the majority of the area.
• Drought in West Virginia, May 1 to 31, 202640 eventsMay started with severe drought (D2) present across much of eastern WV, including: Fayette, McDowell, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Wyoming, southeast Braxton, eastern Logan, eastern Mingo, southern Upshur, and most of Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Randolph, and Webster counties.
• Drought in West Virginia, April 1 to 30, 202640 eventsThe 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.
• Drought in West Virginia, February 1 to 28, 199734 eventsThe monthly average temperature was 5 to 7 degrees warmer than usual. It was the 7th warmest February this century at Charleston. The 3 month average temperature for the "winter" was 2 to 5 degrees above the normal. At Charleston, it was the warmest winter in 25 years.
• Drought in West Virginia, September 1 to 30, 199934 eventsThe drought severity increased again for the western lowland counties, generally west of the Interstate 79 corridor. Less than an inch of rain fell in Huntington for the entire month, making it the 6th driest September on record for that city. A few more wells went dry.
• Drought in West Virginia, October 1 to 31, 199934 eventsThe drought severity eased. Monthly rainfall was an inch above normal in many counties. Rain totals of 3 to 4 inches were common and evenly distributed through the month. This kept the autumn brush fires at a minimum. Surface flow in streams increased.
• Drought in West Virginia, July 1 to 31, 199934 eventsThe drought strengthened during the 1st half of July. Showers became more common during the last 2 weeks of the month. Soil moisture and stream flow improved temporarily, especially in the Kanawha and Elk River Valleys. However, the extreme heat quickly dried the surface.
• Drought in West Virginia, August 1 to 31, 199934 eventsThe drought eased somewhat during August with 2 to 4 inches of rain. Also, temperatures were not as hot as those endured during July. However, the drought still lingered by month's end.A federal drought disaster was declared by President Clinton on the 2nd.
• Drought in West Virginia, September 1 to 25, 200234 eventsThe hot and dry pattern of August lingered into much of September. The hottest weather was during the first 10 days of the month. Readings in the 90s were common across the lowlands.
• Drought in West Virginia, June 1 to 30, 199932 eventsThe drought continued to spread and strengthen in West Virginia. Most counties saw a deterioration of stream flow and soil moisture during June. Small streams and small farm ponds began to go dry. June rains of only 1 to 2 inches were common.
• Drought in West Virginia, October 1 to 31, 202531 eventsDrought conditions carried over into the month of October for portions of north, central, and eastern West Virginia.
• Drought in West Virginia, November 1 to 25, 1998$36,000 · 4 eventsDry conditions started in July, subsided in August, started again in September, and continued through most of November. In most areas, crops were damaged or destroyed. Water levels in creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes were fairly low. Water levels in some shallow wells were low.
• Drought in West Virginia, September 1 to 30, 200522 eventsAfter a hot summer, the total monthly rainfall was only 0.5 to 0.75 inches for a majority of the northern lowlands and the mountainous areas. In Pocahontas County, the cooperative observer at Frost measured only 0.3 inches of rain for a September total.
• Drought in West Virginia, October 1 to 31, 200522 eventsAbove normal October rains fell across most of the counties that saw a developing drought during September. Stream flows improved and the long term Palmer Drought Index rose to, or above, the zero mark. So by the end of the month, the drought had eased.
• Drought in West Virginia, November 1 to 30, 202521 eventsNovember started out with an area of moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought persisting within counties along and east of I-79 and along and north of I-64.
• Drought in West Virginia, June 1 to 30, 202620 eventsOngoing severe drought (D2) persisted across portions of southeast West Virginia, including: Boone, southern Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh, southern Roane, southern Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
• Drought in West Virginia, September 1 to 30, 200716 eventsSeptember averaged warmer and drier than normal. As a result, the drought continued and spread a bit further toward the north and east. The monthly rainfall of 1 to 2 inches was common. Surface water was being depleted in small streams, ponds, and small impoundments.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in West Virginia

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.