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Climate change in West Virginia is an ongoing concern. Most of the state has warmed one-half to one degree Fahrenheit (0.28–0.56 °C) in the last century, and heavy rainstorms are becoming more frequent.[1] In the coming decades, a changing climate is likely to increase flooding, harm ecosystems, increase some health problems, and possibly threaten some recreational activities. The average temperature in Charleston, West Virginia, has increased 1.1 °F (0.61 °C) over the last century, and precipitation has increased by up to 10% in many parts of the state.
Over the course of the 21st century, climate in West Virginia may change even more. For example, based on projections made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and results from the United Kingdom Hadley Centre’s climate model (HadCM2), a model that accounts for both greenhouse gases and aerosols, by 2100 temperatures in West Virginia could increase by 3 °F (1.7 °C) in winter, spring, and summer (with a range of 1–6 °F, 0.6–3.3 °C) and 4 °F (2.2 °C) in fall (with a range of 2–7 °F, 1.1–3.9 °C). Precipitation is estimated to increase by 20% (with a range of 10–30%) in all seasons, slightly more in summer. Other climate models may show different results, especially regarding estimated changes in precipitation. The impacts described in the sections that follow take into account estimates from different models. The frequency of extreme hot days in summer would increase because of the general warming trend. It is not clear how the severity of storms might be affected, although an increase in the frequency and intensity of summer thunderstorms is possible.
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This article incorporates public domain material from Climate Change and West Virginia (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. August 2016.
