Sign In Register

Welch, WV

Full City Profile · West Virginia · McDowell County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
3,492 Population 458/sq mi density
$36,188 Median Income $11,111 per capita
$56,500 Home Value $45,876 Zillow
53°F Avg Temperature 305 sunny days/yr
4,176 Violent Crime/100K 8,874 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$36,188 median income, 1.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$56,500 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
4,176 violent crimes/100K (999% above avg)
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Welch experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 44.6 inches. The area receives 17.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.

Temperature

33°F Jan (1°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average53.4°F
1% below US avg
January Average33°F (1°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days305 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,762 ft (537 m)
Area6.0 sq mi (15.6 km²)
Population Density458/sq mi
Coordinates37.4281°N, 81.5915°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyMcDowell County County
Nearest AirportWest Virginia International Yeager (CRW)
65 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 44.6"
17% above US avg
Snowfall 17.6"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.61"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.15"

Air Quality

AQI Median39.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score76.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability96.3 / 100
Community Resilience4.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

49 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Jul 8, 2023.

Nov 10, 2012 6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky M4.2 133 km
Apr 22, 1991 14 km ESE of Falling Spring, West Virginia M3.5 135 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 76 km
Apr 4, 2010 14 km SW of Gassaway, West Virginia M3.4 143 km
Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 79 km
Nov 8, 1990 5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky M3.2 132 km
Sep 13, 2017 11 km NE of Peterstown, West Virginia M3.2 79 km
Dec 4, 2001 9 km W of Alderson, West Virginia M3.1 81 km
May 16, 2009 2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia M3.0 142 km
Jun 28, 1991 4 km ENE of Pratt, West Virginia M3.0 92 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 106 km
Jan 22, 1995 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia M2.9 83 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 141 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 101 km
Feb 15, 2005 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia M2.8 39 km
Jan 10, 2012 14 km WNW of Birch River, West Virginia M2.8 141 km
Jul 4, 2009 3 km E of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 73 km
Jul 15, 2021 10 km S of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 71 km
May 12, 2017 6 km SSW of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 68 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 110 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

63 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 5 fatalities, 113 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 92 km 3
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 65 km 1
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 71 km 1
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 39 km 0
Apr 2, 2024 EF2 89 km 0
Oct 7, 2014 EF2 39 km 0
Apr 8, 2011 EF2 82 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 62 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 94 km 0
May 26, 1990 EF2 87 km 0
Jul 11, 1976 EF2 92 km 0
Jan 25, 1975 EF2 74 km 0
Apr 12, 1965 EF2 44 km 0
Apr 8, 1965 EF2 69 km 0
Feb 25, 1961 EF2 73 km 0
Apr 2, 2024 EF1 90 km 0
Apr 2, 2024 EF1 84 km 0
Aug 9, 2019 EF1 80 km 0
Jun 24, 2019 EF1 97 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF1 92 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY (61,231 ac, 1987).

Year Name Acres Distance
1987 BRUSHY 61,231 72 km
1987 UNNAMED 41,794 52 km
1987 UNNAMED 38,312 91 km
1987 UNNAMED 32,565 64 km
1991 KAYFORD MOUNTAIN 31,509 67 km
1991 JENNINGS CREEK 29,308 83 km
1987 UNNAMED 27,317 68 km
1991 WHITE OAK BRANCH 25,550 79 km
1987 ELLIS CREEK 24,070 55 km
1991 UNNAMED 22,282 51 km
1991 TUG RIVER 20,813 55 km
1991 BROWNS BRANCH 17,324 56 km
1994 UNNAMED 15,526 95 km
1991 HUFF CREEK 15,190 35 km
1987 RUCKERS BRANCH 14,744 72 km
1987 UNNAMED 14,554 84 km
1991 ROLLINS BRANCH 14,435 38 km
1991 UNNAMED 14,264 79 km
1991 GAULEY MTN 13,113 92 km
1991 ROCK HOUSE BRANCH 13,056 69 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 33°F (1°C) 3.2 in Coldest
February 35°F (2°C) 3.2 in Driest
March 44°F (6°C) 3.7 in
April 52°F (11°C) 3.9 in
May 61°F (16°C) 4.4 in
June 68°F (20°C) 3.8 in
July 72°F (22°C) 4.6 in Warmest, Wettest
August 71°F (22°C) 3.9 in
September 65°F (18°C) 3.5 in
October 54°F (12°C) 3.2 in
November 45°F (7°C) 3.4 in
December 36°F (2°C) 3.4 in

Welch has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 33°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.6") and February the driest (3.2").

View full weather details →