Will Pipes Freeze in Barnwell County, SC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Barnwell County
In a normal year Barnwell County, SC gets 5 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 17% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 46 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 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 5 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 11/13, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 01/04 to 01/29.
How cold Barnwell County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 38°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 70°F | 64°F | 53°F | 42°F | 37°F |
Barnwell County next to its neighbours
Allendale County, SC, 32 km south, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Barnwell County's 5 nights. Bamberg County, SC, 36 km east, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell County, SC | - | 46 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
| Allendale County, SC | 32 km south | 55 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Bamberg County, SC | 36 km east | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Aiken County, SC | 37 km northwest | 48 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Burke County, GA | 57 km southwest | 52 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Screven County, GA | 60 km south | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Hampton County, SC | 60 km southeast | 30 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
Barnwell County within SC
Barnwell County ranks 30 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 240 ft, Barnwell County sits close to 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Blackville (3 mi W), SC, 14 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.