Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 45 min6:05 am – 8:49 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 35 min7:36 am – 5:11 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People0 residentsin the ZIP code area0 householdsSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 60°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 23°F41 in of rain a year, on about 88 dayswettest month May35 in of snow a year, on about 25 days5 days above 90°F, 120 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Elkhorn station, 1 mi away; rain from Bluefield Mercer Co Ap
Parks and public landsAnawalt Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 3.4 mi · 1,796 acresPinnacle Rock State Parkstate park · 6.4 mi · 393 acresJefferson National Forestnational forest · 9.9 mi · 711,977 acresCamp Creek State Parkstate park · 15.9 mi · 559 acresTwin Falls Resort State Parkstate park · 16.1 mi · 3,744 acresPipestem Resort State Parkstate park · 22.4 mi · 4,211 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes9 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200636 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 13 Sep 201738 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 quality94% of days had good air in 2025337 of 357 days measured20 moderate daysMedian index 37, worst day 80main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Giles County, VA, 38 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
Elevation2,427 ft740 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWelch Community Hospital11.8 miPost officeSwitchback Post Officeunder a mileTown hallAnawalt Town Hall4.0 miPoliceNorthfork Police Department3.7 miFire stationNorthfork Volunteer Fire Department3.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeBluefield State University11.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW32 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO119 miInterstateI-7716 miUS highwayUS 52under a mileAmtrakHinton, WV HIN34 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound11 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24887 ZIP area.
