Will Pipes Freeze in Botetourt County, VA? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Botetourt County
In a normal year Botetourt County, VA gets 22 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 38% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 102 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 22 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 22 nights of risk to 3 nights. 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 10/31, last around 04/08. For 20°F: 12/05 to 03/02.
How cold Botetourt County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Botetourt County next to its neighbours
Covington city, VA, 29 km northwest, gets 31 nights below 20°F to Botetourt County's 22 nights. Roanoke city, VA, 35 km southwest, gets 15 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botetourt County, VA | - | 102 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Covington city, VA | 29 km northwest | 120 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Alleghany County, VA | 31 km northwest | 120 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Roanoke city, VA | 35 km southwest | 84 nights | 15 nights | 27°F |
| Bedford County, VA | 37 km southeast | 85 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Salem city, VA | 39 km southwest | 85 nights | 16 nights | 27°F |
| Lexington city, VA | 39 km northeast | 119 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
Botetourt County within VA
Botetourt County ranks 73 of 133 VA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Highland County, VA at 62 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Norfolk city, VA: 4 nights, winter lows near 35°F. At 1,331 ft, Botetourt County sits 884 ft above the state's median county elevation of 448 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Buchanan, VA, 11 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.