Will Pipes Freeze in Alexandria city, VA? 15 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Alexandria city
In a normal year Alexandria city, VA gets 15 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 32% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 76 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 15 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 15 nights of risk to 2 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 11/08, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/23 to 02/28.
How cold Alexandria city nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 28°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February: 2 nights a year, and none below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°F | 29°F | 36°F | 46°F | 56°F | 65°F | 70°F | 68°F | 62°F | 49°F | 39°F | 32°F |
Alexandria city next to its neighbours
Arlington County, VA, 7 km north, gets 18 nights below 20°F to Alexandria city's 15 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria city, VA | - | 76 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Arlington County, VA | 7 km north | 83 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Falls Church city, VA | 11 km northwest | 92 nights | 21 nights | 25°F |
| District of Columbia, DC | 11 km northeast | 80 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Fairfax County, VA | 16 km west | 99 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Fairfax city, VA | 19 km west | 100 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Prince George's County, MD | 20 km east | 99 nights | 26 nights | 25°F |
Alexandria city within VA
Alexandria city ranks 98 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 164 ft, Alexandria city sits 283 ft below 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 Oxon Hill, MD, 8 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.