Will Pipes Freeze in Beaufort County, SC? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Beaufort County
In a normal year Beaufort County, SC gets under 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 5% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 13 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | under 1 night |
| 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 under 1 night 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 12/09, last around 03/03. For 20°F: 01/12 to 01/17.
How cold Beaufort County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 43°F; the coldest month, January, averages 41°F overnight. 4 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41°F | 44°F | 49°F | 56°F | 66°F | 72°F | 75°F | 74°F | 70°F | 61°F | 50°F | 44°F |
Beaufort County next to its neighbours
Jasper County, SC, 32 km west, gets 2 nights below 20°F to Beaufort County's under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County, SC | - | 13 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Jasper County, SC | 32 km west | 26 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Colleton County, SC | 55 km north | 44 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Chatham County, GA | 56 km southwest | 21 nights | under 1 night | 40°F |
| Effingham County, GA | 61 km west | 27 nights | 1 night | 38°F |
| Hampton County, SC | 63 km northwest | 30 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Bryan County, GA | 80 km southwest | 22 nights | under 1 night | 40°F |
Beaufort County within SC
Beaufort County ranks 45 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 2 ft, Beaufort County sits 259 ft below the state's median county elevation of 260 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Beaufort Wastewater Plant, SC, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. Why elevation is part of the blend: how county numbers are made.