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Winter in McDowell County, West Virginia
86 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 86 winter events in McDowell County, West Virginia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 29 years.
January is the busiest month, with 31 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 57 events against 29 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 7,140 winter events recorded in West Virginia; its 16.1 per 100 square miles compares with 29.7 statewide.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with West Virginia
| Measure | McDowell County | West Virginia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 86 | 7,140 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 16.1 | 29.7 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 46.8 | 40.0 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 10 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
31Feb
25Mar
14Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
2Dec
13
Recorded events
All 86 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Nov 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2018 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2018 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2013 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2013 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2012 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | $750K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Mar 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 1999 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 1999 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 1998 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 1998 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 1998 | Heavy Snow | — | $2.0M | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 1997 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 1997 | Ice Storm | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has McDowell County had?
86 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in McDowell County?
16 Mar 2026 (Winter Weather). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in McDowell County?
The heavy snow of 27 Jan 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.0M.
How does McDowell County compare with West Virginia for winter?
16.1 events per 100 square miles against 29.7 statewide; the county holds 86 of the state's 7,140 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.