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I'm curious about your winters. In the mountainous areas that get some snow (I see 60-70 inches being mentioned)-how long does it last on the ground, and more importantly, on the roads? I'm currently in N. Idaho and love the area-but our winters are long (my private road is usually iced over by Thanksgiving and doesn't melt off until March). Now, for most people, that might not be such an issue-but I'm an avid motorcyclist. I don't mind some snow (and in fact want some), just not for 5 or more months every year. If you get 6-12 inches in a day and it melts in a week or so, that's not a big deal to me.
I'm considering West Virginia for retirement. Besides the long winters, housing costs, especially on rural acreage, have gotten insane in Idaho.
I'm curious about your winters. In the mountainous areas that get some snow (I see 60-70 inches being mentioned)-how long does it last on the ground, and more importantly, on the roads? I'm currently in N. Idaho and love the area-but our winters are long (my private road is usually iced over by Thanksgiving and doesn't melt off until March). Now, for most people, that might not be such an issue-but I'm an avid motorcyclist. I don't mind some snow (and in fact want some), just not for 5 or more months every year. If you get 6-12 inches in a day and it melts in a week or so, that's not a big deal to me.
I'm considering West Virginia for retirement. Besides the long winters, housing costs, especially on rural acreage, have gotten insane in Idaho.
As with anywhere else, it depends where you want to move. Narrow down something more than "West Virginia" and you might get a clear answer. The mountains will have snow on the ground most of December through March. The Ohio River Valley will have a total of 10 days or so total of snow on the ground.
Weather goes in cycles and the last few years the areas that don't normally get snow have and the mountain areas not so much. I live in Elkins which is notorious for being the snowiest small city in the state. The average snow totals for Elkins is 83.5 inches. I lived here as a child and snow stayed on the ground from Christmas till March.We had 31.8 inches of snow total last winter with the largest one day total of 4.8 inches in January. There was no snow in October 2018 or in March 2019. There was only 3.5 inches for the month of February. Last year in november Elkins received 2.5 inches on the 27th. December we had 5.4 inches total with 11 days with highs over 50 degrees. We had 17.1 inches for January with the largest two snow totals of 3.5 and 4.8 inches. We had 5 days over 50 degrees and 9 over 40. February saw 18 days with highs of at least fifty including 5 days with 60 or higher. There was 3.5 inches of snow. We received 5.8 inches in March with with 25 days over 40 degrees and 15 days of 50 to 77. I actually don't even remember more than once that snow was on the ground even two days all winter.. Most major snow for the last few years has been going around us for some reason the last few years.This winter is supposed to be bad by predictions but so far one snow the the day of a inch that is gone now, October was very warm this year as has been the early part of november. You can look up specific towns and they're daily snow totals online.
I wonder if these changes are really affecting Petersburg/Moorehead area pace of life and if there're development plans.
No and no. These are pretty remote towns. The eventual completion of Corridor H will ease access to these towns but they will never be high development areas. They're actually level in population/losing some population over the last 10 years
No and no. These are pretty remote towns. The eventual completion of Corridor H will ease access to these towns but they will never be high development areas. They're actually level in population/losing some population over the last 10 years
Weather goes in cycles and the last few years the areas that don't normally get snow have and the mountain areas not so much. I live in Elkins which is notorious for being the snowiest small city in the state. The average snow totals for Elkins is 83.5 inches. I lived here as a child and snow stayed on the ground from Christmas till March.We had 31.8 inches of snow total last winter with the largest one day total of 4.8 inches in January. There was no snow in October 2018 or in March 2019. There was only 3.5 inches for the month of February. Last year in november Elkins received 2.5 inches on the 27th. December we had 5.4 inches total with 11 days with highs over 50 degrees. We had 17.1 inches for January with the largest two snow totals of 3.5 and 4.8 inches. We had 5 days over 50 degrees and 9 over 40. February saw 18 days with highs of at least fifty including 5 days with 60 or higher. There was 3.5 inches of snow. We received 5.8 inches in March with with 25 days over 40 degrees and 15 days of 50 to 77. I actually don't even remember more than once that snow was on the ground even two days all winter.. Most major snow for the last few years has been going around us for some reason the last few years.This winter is supposed to be bad by predictions but so far one snow the the day of a inch that is gone now, October was very warm this year as has been the early part of november. You can look up specific towns and they're daily snow totals online.
True. But last winter wasn't normal for Elkins or any of the West Virginia high country. I'm a big skier and it was notoriously bad for all the WV (and other Mid-Atlantic) resorts - Snowshoe barely cracked 100 inches when their average is 180. Thats why they use the average amounts. You are correct though that it seems to be trending down a bit- I can't think of a year in the last maybe even decade where Snowshoe has exceeded its annual average.
Last edited by NOVAmtneer82; 11-17-2019 at 02:46 PM..
No and no. These are pretty remote towns. The eventual completion of Corridor H will ease access to these towns but they will never be high development areas. They're actually level in population/losing some population over the last 10 years
This is correct. We've had family property outside of Petersburg for decades. Land values increased slightly once Corridor H was completed through Moorefield but the towns have not really gained population- it has made the drive from the DC area easier but for second homes a lot of people either continue down the Corridor towards Davis / Thomas / Canaan or stick closer to the Virginia border. I personally love it- selfishly want the area to stay as remote and quiet as possible.
Snow totals actually have been down for years. I worked at Snowshoe and Canaan in high school and a lot more snow is man made now. At least the nightly temperatures make that possible. In Elkins that I can remember in the last 5 to 6 years only one or two snows over a couple inches and one of the worst storms was in October we got 12 inches in 2012. The last big snow in Elkins in December was 19.9 inches in 2009. January 2016 had a snow of 11.8 inches. February 2014 had a snow of 16.3 inches on February 13th. These are the few big snows in the last 10 years and they seem to be fewer all the time.
True. But last winter wasn't normal for Elkins or any of the West Virginia high country. I'm a big skier and it was notoriously bad for all the WV (and other Mid-Atlantic) resorts - Snowshoe barely cracked 100 inches when their average is 180. Thats why they use the average amounts. You are correct though that it seems to be trending down a bit- I can't think of a year in the last maybe even decade where Snowshoe has exceeded its annual average.
2017-2018 was right on Snowshoe's average as was 2009-2010, but most years are at least 4-5 ft. below that 180" average.
Does anyone know how deep wells tend to run on the Eastern side of mountains?
I'm guessing down at lower elevations it'd be around 80-100ft. And higher in the mountains (but not too high, not like Snowshoe) - from 100 to 200, may be up to 250feet deep. Does it sound right or acquifers are deeper?
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