Will Pipes Freeze in Alleghany County, NC? 35 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Alleghany County
In a normal year Alleghany County, NC gets 35 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 51% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to April, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 109 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 35 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 35 nights of risk to 9 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 10/22, last around 04/22. For 20°F: 11/21 to 03/15.
How cold Alleghany County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 24°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°F overnight. 9 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, March, December: 9 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 24°F | 31°F | 40°F | 49°F | 57°F | 62°F | 60°F | 53°F | 41°F | 32°F | 26°F |
Alleghany County next to its neighbours
Galax city, VA, 28 km northeast, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Alleghany County's 35 nights. Grayson County, VA, 20 km north, gets 34 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County, NC | - | 109 nights | 35 nights | 22°F |
| Grayson County, VA | 20 km north | 94 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
| Galax city, VA | 28 km northeast | 123 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Wilkes County, NC | 31 km south | 101 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Ashe County, NC | 33 km west | 124 nights | 44 nights | 22°F |
| Surry County, NC | 41 km east | 111 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Carroll County, VA | 45 km northeast | 117 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
Alleghany County within NC
Alleghany County ranks 6 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 3,099 ft, Alleghany County sits 2,626 ft above the state's median county elevation of 473 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Sparta (3.5 mi SSW), NC, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.