Four Northeastern states -- West Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York -- have set precipitation records for the January-November period, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.

The climatologists, using an area-weighted average for charting precipitation, also have determined that the Northeast -- as a whole -- also set a precipitation record for the January-November period.

In addition, without even the benefit of any of December's weather data, West Virginia has become the first state this year in the Northeast to break an all-time annual precipitation record, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.

Beating the old state record set in 1972 -- which was 54.41 inches of precipitation -- West Virginia has had 55.15 inches between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 of this year. The data for the other states:

• Pennsylvania received 131 percent of its normal precipitation for that period, with 49.96 inches. For December, Pennsylvania needs 1.85 inches of rain to set its all-time annual record.
• New York received 124 percent of the normal precipitation for that period, with 45.9 inches. The Empire State needs 4.29 inches in December to beat its all-time record, set in 1977.
• Massachusetts received 132 percent of normal precipitation with 54.32 inches. It needs 5.46 inches to beat its old record of 59.78 inches set in 1983.

Maryland endured its second wettest January through November period, but needs 5.61 inches in December to break its all-time record, set in 1979. The Northeast, as a whole, needs but 2.52 inches in December to break its all-time record.

With 18 days left in 1996, more records could fall. "I'm quite confident that Pennsylvania will set an all-time record for precipitation," said Keith Eggleston, regional climatologist at the center. "New York will probably break its record as well."

The Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University obtains records from more than 450 individual stations throughout the 12-state northeast region, where climatologists have just completed data tabulation for the January to November period. They have not begun to analyze December data.

Today, Dec. 13, a cold front has moved through the entire Northeast, once again leaving few dry spots in the region, Eggleston said. But, Maine and Rhode Island appear to have the driest spots in the Northeast for 1996. Maine needs 13.7 inches of rain to beat its old record, while Rhode Island needs 16.78 inches.

In Elkins, W. Va., a new precipitation record was set for the year. The old record of 65.37 inches -- set in 1906 -- was broken on Nov. 8, 1996. Right now they have more than 70 inches for the year.