Will Pipes Freeze in Beaufort County, NC? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Beaufort County
In a normal year Beaufort County, NC 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 January to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 36 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 3 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 12/05, last around 03/08. For 20°F: 01/14 to 01/23.
How cold Beaufort 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 | 37°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 69°F | 73°F | 72°F | 67°F | 56°F | 46°F | 39°F |
Beaufort County next to its neighbours
Washington County, NC, 47 km northeast, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Beaufort County's 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County, NC | - | 36 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Pamlico County, NC | 41 km southeast | 40 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Craven County, NC | 46 km southwest | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Washington County, NC | 47 km northeast | 51 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Martin County, NC | 48 km northwest | 54 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Pitt County, NC | 50 km west | 54 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Hyde County, NC | 63 km east | 54 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
Beaufort County within NC
Beaufort County ranks 97 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 15 ft, Beaufort County sits 458 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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 Aurora (6 mi N), NC, 12 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.