West Virginia is no stranger to harsh winters and like it or not, snowy days are bound to come each year. Locals are prepared to bundle up and brave the cold each winter, stocking up on supplies like gloves and ice scrapers well in advance. However, everybody knows there’s really no predicting the weather in West Virginia! In fact, West Virginia was once victim to one of the harshest blizzards in recent history. You probably never forgot this epic snow storm if you were in West Virginia when it occurred circa four decades ago. Many regard it as the largest blizzard in West Virginia history!

On January 20, 1978, the biggest snow storm to ever hit West Virginia shut down the state for days. This incredible storm is still referred to as "The Great Blizzard of '78."
popfatticus/Flickr
The blizzard was the result of a low pressure storm system that developed near the Florida panhandle on Thursday, January 20th. Snow started to spread to the north and eventually reach West Virginia during the early morning hours of January 20th.
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The National Weather Service was caught completely by surprise. They believed the snow in West Virginia would soon mix with sleet and rain. However, the temperature never exceeded freezing temperatures and snow continued to accumulate heavily in the western and northern parts of the state.
jcsullivan24/Flickr

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The blizzard was considered to be a rare snow storm, since it was recorded that more snow fell at Charleston than in the high mountains. By the afternoon on January 20th, the average total snow depth in Charleston and the Kanawha Valley was a whopping 24 inches. Huntington was recorded getting 20 inches of snow and Wheeling got 18 inches.
Justin A Wilcox/Wikimedia Commons
The incredible amount of snow that hit the state was devastating. Many people were victim to collapsed roofs and awnings. Nobody could drive. Buses were stranded. On that Friday, it was as if the entire state stood still. Many roads, schools, and businesses closed down for days.
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It was the storm's aftermath that proved to be most difficult for West Virginia residents. Just days later on January 26th, a stronger storm hit Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Luckily, West Virginia was hit with rain instead of snow. However, this caused the snow to melt so rapidly that several areas became instantly flooded, especially along the Little Kanawha river. After the storm ended, the flood waters remained and the temperatures dropped into single digits.
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However, a lot of the snow remained and didn't melt until early March. Altogether, snow covered the ground for an average of 60 days and this was considered the longest period of continuous snow cover to exist in West Virginia!
Staff Sgt. Debra Richardson/Wikimedia Commons

Do you have memories of “The Great Blizzard of ’78”? Share your experiences of the largest blizzard in West Virginia with us in the comments! Also, did you know about The Terrifying, Deadly Storm Which Struck West Virginia In 1993?

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Largest Blizzard In West Virginia

Nikki Rhoades | December 15, 2019

When was the biggest blizzard in West Virginia?

The Mountain State has a climate that vastly varies, thanks in part to its mountainous topography. Locals in high and low elevations can receive notably different temperatures year-round, but locals all across the state will never forget the West Virginia blizzard of 1950. During this event, snowfall battered the entirety of the Appalachian region, thus earning it the nickname of the Great Appalachian Storm of November 1950. This, of course, was one of the biggest snowstorms in West Virginia. It set the record for November snowfall, weighing in with 57 inches at its snowiest city.

What is the most snow ever recorded in West Virginia?

Pickens, aforementioned for receiving 57 inches during the Great Appalachian Storm, receives some of the worst winter weather in West Virginia. That weather event in Pickens led to the single day snowfall record for the state – one that hopefully won’t be beat anytime soon! Snowshoe holds the record for deepest uniform depth of snow, and they also hold the record for coldest day on record since 1917. On January 21, 1985, Snowshoe’s thermometers reflected a brisk temperature of -36 degrees. Yikes!

What is winter weather in West Virginia typically like?

Mountaineers Are Always Free in the Mountain State, but they certainly aren’t free of snow. Winter weather in West Virginia varies depending on your elevation, as communities in the mountains typically receive more snowfall than those closer to sea level. The lower portions of the state may actually enjoy the occasional winter where temperatures don’t even dip below freezing in the midst of the most unforgiving months, although the topography of this state does allow for a lot of variation. Some places, like Snowshoe in Pocahontas County, receive up to 13 feet of snowfall per year!

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