Will Pipes Freeze in Berkeley County, SC? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Berkeley County
In a normal year Berkeley County, SC gets 2 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 10% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 33 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 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 2 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 11/26, last around 03/10. For 20°F: 01/07 to 01/19.
How cold Berkeley County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 40°F; the coldest month, January, averages 38°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 40°F | 46°F | 53°F | 62°F | 70°F | 74°F | 72°F | 67°F | 57°F | 46°F | 41°F |
Berkeley County next to its neighbours
Dorchester County, SC, 44 km west, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Berkeley County's 2 nights. Charleston County, SC, 45 km south, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County, SC | - | 33 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Dorchester County, SC | 44 km west | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Charleston County, SC | 45 km south | 7 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 52 km northeast | 60 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Clarendon County, SC | 56 km northwest | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Georgetown County, SC | 65 km east | 35 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Colleton County, SC | 77 km southwest | 44 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
Berkeley County within SC
Berkeley County ranks 44 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 7 ft, Berkeley County sits 253 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.
A few nights a year catches houses that were never built for it: pipes 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 Moncks Corner (4 mi N), SC, 5 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.