A Record Setting Warm April Across the NWS Charleston Forecast Area with Below Normal Precipitation

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A Record Setting Warm April Across the NWS Charleston Forecast Area with Below Normal Precipitation

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV

..............A RECORD SETTING WARM APRIL WITH BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION...............

Compared to historical records and the 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals, it was a record
setting warm April across the NWS Charleston forecast area, with mean temperatures
generally 4 to 8 degrees above normal. This translated into all six official NWS
Charleston climate locations having their warmest April on record. Both Elkins and
Huntington broke their prior records by 1-2 degrees, while the other climate sites
exceeded their prior records by less than a degree.

Precipitation totals for the month of April varied across the forecast area, ranging
from approximately 1 to 5 inches. In general, this resulted in widespread precipitation
deficits, with some locations 1 to as much as 3 inches below normal. For instance, the
Cooperative Observer station just northwest of Jackson, Ohio received only 1.47 inches
of precipitation, resulting in an April deficit of 2.60 inches. Even with these
precipitation deficits across the NWS Charleston forecast area, no top 10s were set at
any of the official NWS Charleston climate locations in terms of driest April on record.

Little to no snow fell during the month of April across the forecast area, with below
normal values observed area wide, resulting in significant snowfall departures across
the higher elevations of the mountains.

Listed below are the locations, observed values, and records that were set in April
2026, along with the prior records.

                     April 2026 Records Set (Mean Temperature)
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  Location           Observed Value     Top 10 Rank              Prior Record
- Beckley, WV        -> 58.8 F          : Warmest on Record      -> 58.4 F (2017)
- Charleston, WV     -> 62.8 F          : Warmest on Record      -> 62.4 F (1954)
- Clarksburg, WV     -> 59.7 F          : Warmest on Record      -> 58.9 F (2006)
- Elkins, WV         -> 57.3 F          : Warmest on Record      -> 56.0 F (2017)
- Huntington, WV     -> 64.3 F          : Warmest on Record      -> 62.4 F (2017)
- Parkersburg, WV    -> 61.2 F          : Warmest on Record      -> 60.5 F (1954)
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