Will Pipes Freeze in Alleghany County, VA? 31 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Alleghany County
In a normal year Alleghany County, VA gets 31 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 47% 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 | 120 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 31 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 31 nights of risk to 7 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 10/18, last around 04/27. For 20°F: 11/19 to 03/16.
How cold Alleghany County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 24°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 7 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 24°F | 30°F | 39°F | 48°F | 57°F | 61°F | 60°F | 53°F | 42°F | 31°F | 26°F |
Alleghany County next to its neighbours
Bath County, VA, 40 km northeast, gets 52 nights below 20°F to Alleghany County's 31 nights. Botetourt County, VA, 31 km southeast, gets 22 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County, VA | - | 120 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Covington city, VA | 2 km east | 120 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Botetourt County, VA | 31 km southeast | 102 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Bath County, VA | 40 km northeast | 139 nights | 52 nights | 20°F |
| Craig County, VA | 40 km southwest | 132 nights | 45 nights | 22°F |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 42 km west | 139 nights | 53 nights | 20°F |
| Rockbridge County, VA | 49 km east | 118 nights | 33 nights | 24°F |
Alleghany County within VA
Alleghany County ranks 35 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 1,396 ft, Alleghany County sits 949 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 Covington Fltr Plt, VA, 3 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.