Will Pipes Freeze in Bristol County, RI? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Bristol County
In a normal year Bristol County, RI gets 32 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 48% 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 | 106 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 32 nights of risk to 7 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 11/02, last around 04/11. For 20°F: 12/07 to 03/12.
How cold Bristol County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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, December: 7 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 24°F | 30°F | 39°F | 49°F | 59°F | 65°F | 64°F | 57°F | 46°F | 37°F | 29°F |
Bristol County next to its neighbours
Bristol County, MA, 17 km east, gets 41 nights below 20°F to Bristol County's 32 nights. Newport County, RI, 23 km south, gets 27 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County, RI | - | 106 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Bristol County, MA | 17 km east | 124 nights | 41 nights | 20°F |
| Newport County, RI | 23 km south | 96 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
| Kent County, RI | 25 km west | 134 nights | 45 nights | 19°F |
| Providence County, RI | 30 km northwest | 132 nights | 49 nights | 19°F |
| Washington County, RI | 44 km southwest | 131 nights | 45 nights | 20°F |
| Norfolk County, MA | 52 km north | 138 nights | 54 nights | 21°F |
Bristol County within RI
Bristol County ranks 4 of 5 RI counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Providence County, RI at 49 nights, with a 21°F average winter low. The fewest is Newport County, RI: 27 nights, winter lows near 27°F. At 31 ft, Bristol County sits 107 ft below the state's median county elevation of 138 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 Tiverton, RI, 11 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.