WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – While most West Virginians associate the first snow with late autumn or early winter, the state has seen flakes much earlier.
The earliest widespread snowfall on record in West Virginia occurred on October 10, 1979, when snow blanketed portions of the state weeks ahead of schedule.
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In higher elevations, such as Snowshoe Mountain, measurable snow has even been recorded as early as September 30, 1993.
On average, the first measurable snowfall in West Virginia arrives much later.
Lower-elevation cities like Charleston typically see their first snow in late November or early December, while mountain regions such as Snowshoe and Canaan Valley average their first snow in late October to early November.
The sharp differences in snowfall timing highlight West Virginia’s varied terrain, where mountain ridges can see winter weather weeks before the valleys.
For many, the first flakes are a sign of the changing seasons—but history shows that in West Virginia, winter can sometimes come early.
