Will Pipes Freeze in Brunswick County, NC? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Brunswick County
In a normal year Brunswick County, NC gets 4 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 15% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 46 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 4 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 11/17, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 01/08 to 01/29.
How cold Brunswick County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 38°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 69°F | 73°F | 71°F | 66°F | 55°F | 44°F | 38°F |
Brunswick County next to its neighbours
Columbus County, NC, 45 km northwest, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Brunswick County's 4 nights. New Hanover County, NC, 37 km northeast, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County, NC | - | 46 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| New Hanover County, NC | 37 km northeast | 42 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Columbus County, NC | 45 km northwest | 59 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Pender County, NC | 61 km northeast | 57 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Bladen County, NC | 68 km northwest | 62 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Horry County, SC | 71 km west | 38 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Duplin County, NC | 103 km north | 65 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
Brunswick County within NC
Brunswick County ranks 94 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 30 ft, Brunswick County sits 444 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Shallotte Ag, NC, 19 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.