Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 45 min6:06 am – 8:50 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 35 min7:37 am – 5:12 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 60°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 23°F49 in of rain a year, on about 97 dayswettest month July20 in of snow a year, on about 9 days5 days above 90°F, 120 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Elkhorn station, 13 mi away; rain from Pineville
Nearby landmarksGrapevine Branch Refuse Bank Lakelake · 4.7 miRiver Laurel Branchriver · 6.2 miBelcher Mountainpeak · 9.0 miLake Berwindlake · 9.2 miClarence Stewart Springspring · 9.1 miPageton Refuse Impoundmentreservoir · 9.5 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsTug Fork Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 3.0 mi · 6,778 acresBerwind Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 9.0 mi · 91 acresPanther State Foreststate park · 13.6 miPanther Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.9 mi · 11,519 acresAnawalt Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.9 mi · 1,796 acresHorse Creek Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 13.6 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes8 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200624 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200624 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowMcDowell County, WV, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsCold wave Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality88% of days had good air in 2025322 of 365 days measured43 moderate daysMedian index 34, worst day 77main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Pike County, KY, 43 mi away
Drinking waterCity of Welchserves 2,907 people from ground water4 health-based violations since 2021latest Oct 2025: coliform bacteria, treatment technique17 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation1,712 ft522 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWelch Community Hospital4.6 miPost officePremier Post Office2.7 miTown hallWelch City Hall4.4 miPoliceMcDowell County Sheriff's Office4.4 miFire stationCoalwood - Caretta Volunteer Fire Department1.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW40 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO129 miInterstateI-7729 miUS highwayUS 522.3 miAmtrakPrince, WV PRC45 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound23 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24821 ZIP area.
