Will Pipes Freeze in Albemarle County, VA? 21 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Albemarle County
In a normal year Albemarle County, VA gets 21 nights at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 37% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 91 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 21 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 21 nights of risk to 4 nights. A 12 ft heat-tape kit runs $17 to $37; an average burst-pipe repair is about $500.
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 11/10, last around 04/02. For 20°F: 12/23 to 02/27.
How cold Albemarle County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 28°F | 34°F | 44°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 65°F | 58°F | 47°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Albemarle County next to its neighbours
Charlottesville city, VA, 6 km east, gets 22 nights below 20°F to Albemarle County's 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County, VA | - | 91 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Charlottesville city, VA | 6 km east | 95 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Waynesboro city, VA | 31 km west | 119 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Greene County, VA | 31 km north | 101 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Fluvanna County, VA | 32 km southeast | 113 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
| Nelson County, VA | 39 km southwest | 119 nights | 35 nights | 23°F |
| Staunton city, VA | 47 km west | 118 nights | 35 nights | 24°F |
Albemarle County within VA
Albemarle County ranks 77 of 133 VA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Highland County, VA at 62 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Norfolk city, VA: 4 nights, winter lows near 35°F. At 688 ft, Albemarle County sits 240 ft above the state's median county elevation of 448 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Charlottesville (2 mi W), VA, 3 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. Why elevation is part of the blend: how county numbers are made.