Today's Mosquito Risk in West Virginia: Real-Time Forecast & Activity Map
Check your ZIP code for local mosquito activity, West Nile risk, and prevention insights.
Built from CDC and NOAA data
Mosquito Surveillance Insights
- Annual WNV Cases
- about 5 to 15 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 3: Moderate
- Mountain elevation cuts mosquito density; river valleys hold the heat that sustains them.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Kanawha and Cabell (Ohio and Kanawha River valleys)
Current Situation in West Virginia
West Virginia runs the lowest mosquito pressure in the Southeast, with rugged Appalachian terrain limiting habitat to river valleys and forested hollows. WNV burden lands at roughly 5 to 15 confirmed human cases in a typical year, concentrated in the Ohio River and Kanawha River corridors through Huntington and Charleston. EEE is rare. Aedes albopictus has established in the warmer Ohio River valley but stays sparse at higher elevations across the Monongahela National Forest. Cx. pipiens dominates the urban biting load. Mountain elevation cuts both temperature and humidity, keeping the season short and population density modest. Biting runs June through September.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in West Virginia, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Low
- Peak Activity
- April through October
- Dominant Vector
- Northern House Mosquito (Culex pipiens)
Where Mosquitoes Breed in West Virginia
West Virginia mosquito habitat is built on river bottomlands, beaver ponds, and forested wetlands tucked into Appalachian hollows. The Ohio River valley from Huntington up through Wheeling produces sustained Cx. pipiens and Aedes albopictus populations in the warmer corridor. The Kanawha River bottomlands through Charleston and the New River gorge in Fayette County hold seasonal Aedes vexans. Forested wetlands across the Monongahela National Forest produce woodland Aedes hatches off snowmelt and summer storms. Storm drains in Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown sustain the modest urban Culex load.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Kanawha County (Charleston, Kanawha River bottomlands)
- Cabell County (Huntington, Ohio River corridor)
- Monongalia County (Morgantown, Cheat River wetlands)
- Ohio County (Wheeling, Ohio River)
- Fayette County (New River Gorge)
- Monongahela National Forest beaver ponds
- Kanawha River corridor
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in early June in the Ohio River valley, peaks in July through August, and tapers by late September. WNV cases land in August in the Charleston and Huntington metros. Mountain hollows and Monongahela trails run a week or two behind the river valleys, with peak forest biting in mid to late July. Heavy summer storms produce short floodwater Aedes pulses along the Kanawha and New Rivers. Higher elevations above 3,000 feet stay sparse all season.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Southeast)
West Virginia Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Low
- about 5 to 15 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- Rare
- Peak biting season
- June through September
- Top urban risk areas
- Charleston (Kanawha)
- Huntington (Cabell)
- Morgantown (Monongalia)
Signature habitat: Appalachian forested wetlands, Ohio River bottomlands, mountain hollows.
Climate driver: Mountain elevation cuts mosquito density; river valleys hold the heat that sustains them.
Check Your Local Mosquito Risk
Ready to see current mosquito activity in your area? Get today's forecast and personalized risk assessment for your ZIP code.
Common Mosquitoes in West Virginia
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in West Virginia helps you identify threats and take appropriate precautions. Click any card for details.
Asian Tiger Mosquito
Aedes albopictus
Risk: Eastern Equine Encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, dog heartworm.
Key feature: A single bright white stripe down the center of the back.
Active: Spring through first hard frost. Eggs overwinter in cold climates and hatch when flooded by spring rain.
Southern House Mosquito
Culex quinquefasciatus
Risk: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, dog heartworm.
Key feature: Medium brown body with banded abdominal segments and no leg stripes.
Active: Year-round in the deep South; summer peak elsewhere. Most active from dusk through the first few hours after sunset.
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Risk: Zika, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya.
Key feature: Black body with white lyre-shaped markings on the thorax.
Active: Year-round in southern Florida and the Gulf; summer-only further north.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Vector: Asian Tiger Mosquito
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Rare but devastating, with roughly 30% case fatality. Concentrated in Northeast swamp areas and the Gulf Coast.
What to watch for
- Onset typically 2 to 15 days after a bite
- Most cases mild or asymptomatic, small fraction severe
- Neurological signs (severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion) need ER care
Breaking the Cycle in West Virginia
The mosquito lifecycle takes about a week. These habits cut local biting pressure faster than anything else, building multiple layers of protection.
Drain the Yard Weekly
Empty buckets, planter saucers, kiddie pools, tarps, and clogged gutters. A week of standing water is one full mosquito generation.
Repel Before Going Out
EPA-registered DEET (20-30%), picaridin (20%), IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply before going outside, especially at dusk and dawn.
Seal the House
Window and door screens with no tears. AC and porch fans both work. Mosquitoes struggle to fly upwind even at 1-2 mph air speed.
Treat Outdoor Clothing
Permethrin-treated long sleeves and pants for evening yard work, hiking, or fishing. Remains effective through 70+ wash cycles.
If You Develop Symptoms
Most mosquito bites are harmless. A small fraction can transmit illness, and knowing the timeline matters more than panicking at every itch.Five things to know.
Watch for fever
Fever, body aches, headache, or fatigue 2 to 15 days after a bite. West Nile often feels like flu, and most infections never get diagnosed.
Note where and when
A rough record of where and when you got bitten helps your doctor decide what to test for. Date, location, mosquito-heavy areas you visited.
Get help fast for neuro signs
Severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, vision changes, or sudden muscle weakness can mean neuroinvasive WNV or EEE. Both are medical emergencies.
Pregnant exposure?
If pregnant and bitten in an area with documented Zika or local dengue transmission, mention to your OB. Same goes for travel exposure.
Children and seniors
Higher risk of severe disease from WNV, EEE, and dengue in adults over 60 and children under 5. Early call to the pediatrician or PCP if symptoms appear.
When does mosquito season end in West Virginia?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in West Virginia typically arrives around Oct 12. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
West Virginia first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in West Virginia?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your West Virginia tick forecast.
View West Virginia tick forecastStay Safe in West Virginia
Get personalized mosquito forecasts and prevention tips for your area