Honestly, if you're looking at the weather forecast Charleston WV, you've probably noticed it’s a bit of a moving target right now. Today, January 17, 2026, we’re sitting at a chilly 35°F, but it feels more like 30°F thanks to a 6 mph breeze coming off the southwest. It's cloudy. Gray. Basically, classic West Virginia winter vibes.
People always think our weather is predictable because we aren't "in the mountains" like Snowshoe or Davis. That is a huge misconception. We live in the lowlands, sure, but the way the Kanawha Valley traps air makes our local forecast a totally different beast than what you see on the national news.
The Immediate 10-Day Outlook: What to Actually Expect
Don't let the "high" of 42°F later today fool you. The humidity is sitting at a thick 92%, which makes that cold air stick to your bones. Tonight, it's dropping to 25°F with a 25% chance of snow.
If you have plans on Sunday, January 18, keep the heavy coat handy. We're looking at a high of only 27°F and a low of 22°F. Mostly cloudy with some snow flurries. It’s that dry, powdery stuff that doesn't really stick but makes the roads just greasy enough to be annoying.
The Big Chill Incoming
Early next week is when things get weird. Check this out:
📖 Related: Gomez Palacio Durango Mexico: Why Most People Just Drive Right Through (And Why They’re Wrong)
- Monday, Jan 19 (MLK Day): High of 30°F, then it craters to 12°F at night.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: This is the coldest day of the stretch. High of 23°F, low of 11°F. It'll be sunny, but that sun is basically a flashlight—no warmth at all.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: We get a bizarre "warm" spike to 45°F with rain and snow mixing.
This back-and-forth is why everyone in Kanawha County seems to have a permanent head cold in January. The National Weather Service in Charleston (RLX) has already been talking about an "Arctic front" crossing on the MLK holiday. It’s a reinforcing shot of cold air that’s going to make Tuesday morning feel brutal. We’re talking wind chills potentially in the single digits or even near zero in some spots around the valley.
Why the Charleston "Microclimate" Ruins Your Apps
You ever notice your phone says it’s 32 degrees, but your car says 27?
Charleston sits at an elevation of about 981 feet. We're surrounded by ridges that rise another 300 to 500 feet above the river. This creates something called cold air drainage. On clear nights, like what we’re expecting Monday and Tuesday night, the cold air literally "slides" down the hills and settles in the valley.
While the ridges might stay a bit warmer, the city center and the airport (Yeager/CRW) can get much colder. It’s also why we get that stubborn river fog that delays flights at Yeager while it's perfectly clear five miles away.
Snow vs. "The Mix"
For the weather forecast Charleston WV, the biggest headache isn't usually a massive blizzard. It's the "mix."
Because we are in the lowlands, we often sit right on the freezing line. A storm coming up from the south hits the Appalachian plateau, and we end up with a messy sandwich of rain, sleet, and snow. For example, the system hitting us next Wednesday (Jan 21) is progged for a high of 45°F. That means the morning commute could be snow, but by lunch, it's just a cold, miserable rain that washes away any salt on the roads—right before it freezes again that night when we hit 23°F.
Survival Tips for the Next Week
If you're living here or just passing through, don't trust the daytime highs.
- Check the "Feels Like": With the wind coming from the west/northwest at 10-14 mph on Monday and Tuesday, that 20-degree air is going to feel like 5.
- Watch the Sunsets: Our shortest days are behind us, but we still only get about 9.8 hours of daylight right now. Once the sun dips behind the hills around 5:30 PM, the temperature drops fast. Like, 10 degrees in an hour fast.
- Prepare for Tuesday Morning: If you have to commute, give yourself an extra 15 minutes. Not just for ice, but because your car battery is going to hate that 11°F overnight low.
The Long Game: January Averages
Statistically, January is our coldest month. The average high is usually around 44°F, which means this coming week is actually significantly colder than normal. We typically see about 3.3 inches of precipitation in January, mostly in the form of these small, frequent snow/rain events rather than one giant "Snowmaggedon."
✨ Don't miss: Garden City Weather SC: What Locals Know That Tourists Usually Miss
Actually, historical records show that the coldest it’s ever been in Charleston was -17°F back in the day, so 11°F isn't "record-breaking," but it’s enough to burst a pipe if you aren't careful.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Drip your faucets on Monday and Tuesday night when the mercury hits those low teens.
- Check your tire pressure today; these 20-degree swings cause that "low tire" light to pop on for everyone at the same time.
- If you’re traveling through Yeager Airport on Wednesday, watch for "mix" delays—rain/snow combos are the most common reason for de-icing holds here.
The bottom line? This week is a rollercoaster. Stay warm, watch the black ice on the bridges over the Kanawha, and maybe keep an extra scraper in the trunk. Winter in the 304 doesn't play around when the Arctic air starts sliding down the ridges.