West Virginia, known as the Mountain State for its high average elevation, typically enjoys more moderate summer temperatures than its lower-lying neighbors. However, the state is not immune to extreme heat, and on one sweltering day in 1930, the temperature reached a record that has stood for nearly a century as the hottest day in West Virginia's history.
Mountain State Inferno: The Hottest Day in West Virginia's History
The highest temperature ever officially recorded in West Virginia was a scorching 112°F (44°C).
- Date and Location: This all-time high was set on July 10, 1930, in Martinsburg, a town located in the Eastern Panhandle of the state.
- The Context: Martinsburg's location in the lower elevations of the Shenandoah Valley, east of the central Allegheny Mountains, makes it more susceptible to higher temperatures than much of the state. This record was part of a significant heat wave that affected the region during that summer.
An Enduring State Record:
For over 90 years, the 112°F reading in Martinsburg has remained the official benchmark for extreme heat in the Mountain State. It stands as a significant event in West Virginia's climatological history, a testament to the powerful weather extremes that can occur even in a state renowned for its mountains.
- State Climate Extremes Committee (National Centers for Environmental Information - NCEI)
- West Virginia State Climate Office
- National Weather Service (NWS)
- The West Virginia Encyclopedia
- Historical news archives and meteorological records from 1930
