Will Pipes Freeze in Bamberg County, SC? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Bamberg County
In a normal year Bamberg County, SC gets 3 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 14% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 41 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 3 nights of risk to none. 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 11/12, last around 03/18. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/27.
How cold Bamberg County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 44°F | 51°F | 60°F | 68°F | 71°F | 70°F | 65°F | 54°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Bamberg County next to its neighbours
Barnwell County, SC, 36 km west, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Bamberg County's 3 nights. Orangeburg County, SC, 35 km northeast, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamberg County, SC | - | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Orangeburg County, SC | 35 km northeast | 38 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Barnwell County, SC | 36 km west | 46 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
| Allendale County, SC | 38 km southwest | 55 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Hampton County, SC | 48 km south | 30 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Colleton County, SC | 54 km southeast | 44 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Calhoun County, SC | 58 km northeast | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Bamberg County within SC
Bamberg County ranks 35 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 161 ft, Bamberg County sits 99 ft below the state's median county elevation of 260 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Bamberg, SC, 10 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.