Will Pipes Freeze in Bristol city, VA? 30 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Bristol city
In a normal year Bristol city, VA gets 30 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 46% 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 | 108 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 30 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 30 nights of risk to 6 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 10/20, last around 04/21. For 20°F: 11/24 to 03/12.
How cold Bristol city nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 27°F | 33°F | 41°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 61°F | 55°F | 43°F | 33°F | 28°F |
Bristol city next to its neighbours
Washington County, VA, 24 km northeast, gets 34 nights below 20°F to Bristol city's 30 nights. Sullivan County, TN, 18 km southwest, gets 22 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol city, VA | - | 108 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Sullivan County, TN | 18 km southwest | 93 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Washington County, VA | 24 km northeast | 115 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Johnson County, TN | 32 km southeast | 124 nights | 41 nights | 23°F |
| Russell County, VA | 36 km north | 109 nights | 36 nights | 24°F |
| Carter County, TN | 37 km south | 118 nights | 39 nights | 23°F |
| Scott County, VA | 42 km west | 97 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
Bristol city within VA
Bristol city ranks 46 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 1,799 ft, Bristol city sits 1,351 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Abingdon (3 mi S), VA, 18 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.