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Environment in West Virginia

Air quality, wildfires, drought, water and emissions.

Monitored days with good air quality
78.2%
2025 · U.S. EPA AirData
Wildfires per Year
~700
avg 2019-2023
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
22.0%
2025 · U.S. Drought Monitor
Daily water withdrawals
3.6 B gallons
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
88.4
2021 · U.S. EIA State Energy Data System
Average annual temperature
53.1
2025 · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Air Quality

Air quality has improved sharply as coal plants retired, though valley terrain still traps particulates.

Monitored days with good air quality
78.2%
2025 · U.S. EPA AirData
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
0.1%
2025 · U.S. EPA AirData
Main urban monitor
Charleston / Huntington
Days rated good
~83%
Primary pollutant
PM2.5

Monitored days with good air quality

1990–2025
78.2%

U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored West Virginia counties.

Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse

1990–2025
0.1%

U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).

  • •Ozone and particulate levels in West Virginia have fallen substantially since 2000.

Wildfires

West Virginia averages about 700 wildfires burning roughly 20,000 acres each year, mostly in spring and fall.

Wildfires per Year
~700
avg 2019-2023
Acres Burned per Year
~20,000
avg 2019-2023
  • •Most West Virginia wildfires occur in spring before green-up, when dry leaf litter covers the forest floor.

Drought

Roughly 12% of West Virginia experienced drought conditions on average during 2024, mostly in short-term summer dry spells.

Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
22.0%
2025 · U.S. Drought Monitor
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
1.2%
2025 · U.S. Drought Monitor
Area in Drought (avg 2024)
~12%
2024

Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average

2000–2025
22%

U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.

Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)

2000–2025
1.2%

U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.

  • •West Virginia's abundant rainfall and forest cover make prolonged, severe drought relatively rare compared with western states.

Water Usage

Most West Virginia water withdrawals cool power plants along the Ohio and Kanawha rivers.

Daily water withdrawals
3.6 B gallons
Thermoelectric share
~80%
Main source
Ohio and Kanawha rivers

Emissions

West Virginia emits about 92 million metric tons of energy-related CO2 annually, one of the highest per-capita rates in the nation.

Energy-related CO₂ emissions
88.4
2021 · U.S. EIA State Energy Data System
Transportation CO₂ emissions
12.9
2021 · U.S. EIA State Energy Data System
Energy-Related CO2 Emissions
~92 million metric tons
2022
Emissions per Capita
~51 metric tons
2022

Energy-related CO₂ emissions

1970–2021
88.4▲ 15%

U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOWVA).

Transportation CO₂ emissions

1970–2021
12.9▲ 70%

U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTOWVA).

  • •West Virginia's per-capita CO2 emissions are among the top five highest of any U.S. state.

Climate Indicators

West Virginia faces more intense rainfall and flash flooding in its narrow Appalachian valleys.

Average annual temperature
53.1
2025 · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Annual precipitation
45.1
2025 · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Warming since 1900
+1.0 °F
Main hazard
Flash flooding in Appalachian valleys

Average annual temperature

1895–2025
53.1▲ 5%

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.

Annual precipitation

1895–2025
45.08▲ 28%

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.

  • •The 2016 floods were among the deadliest in state history.
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