Home › West Virginia › Charleston (West Virginia)

When does it first snow in Charleston (West Virginia), WV?

At Charleston (West Virginia), the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 26. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Nov 11, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 22 or later. The earliest was Oct 29 (2012-13) and the latest Jan 2 (2011-12). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 11, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 24, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 21.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Nov 26Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 11Median first 1"+ snowfall

26.6"Average snowfall per season

17%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 24Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 21Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

186Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Charleston (West Virginia)

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Nov 26	Nov 11 – Dec 22	Oct 29 (2012-13)	Jan 2 (2011-12)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 11	Nov 12 – Jan 15	Oct 30 (2012-13)	Jan 30 (2014-15)	100%
3" of snow or more	Jan 15	Dec 4 – Feb 10	Oct 30 (2012-13)	Mar 5 (2011-12)	87%

Based on 30 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	3%	57%	97%
1"+	3%	27%	73%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 26 (median).

White Christmas odds in Charleston (West Virginia)

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Charleston (West Virginia) had that in 17% of years, at least 3 inches in 3%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.3 inches and the deepest was 4 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 17% of years. Based on 30 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground, by date

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Jan 21 (31%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Charleston (West Virginia)

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 24	Oct 11 – Nov 4	Oct 3 (2003) / Nov 12 (2016)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 21	Apr 10 – May 4	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 6	Oct 30 – Nov 23	Oct 22 (1997) / Nov 30 (2024)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 30	Mar 22 – Apr 11	–	100%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 186 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Charleston - Yeager Ap (USW00013866), elevation 912 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

Planning for winter? Heat pump vs gas furnace, propane and oil: heating cost in West Virginia (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).