Will Pipes Freeze in Buckingham County, VA? 29 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Buckingham County
In a normal year Buckingham County, VA gets 29 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 45% 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 | 111 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 29 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 29 nights of risk to 5 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 10/29, last around 04/12. For 20°F: 12/02 to 03/07.
How cold Buckingham County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°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: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 26°F | 32°F | 41°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 64°F | 57°F | 44°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Buckingham County next to its neighbours
Fluvanna County, VA, 36 km northeast, gets 31 nights below 20°F to Buckingham County's 29 nights. Cumberland County, VA, 25 km east, gets 27 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham County, VA | - | 111 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Cumberland County, VA | 25 km east | 106 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Appomattox County, VA | 34 km southwest | 96 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Fluvanna County, VA | 36 km northeast | 113 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
| Nelson County, VA | 39 km northwest | 119 nights | 35 nights | 23°F |
| Prince Edward County, VA | 40 km south | 99 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Albemarle County, VA | 50 km north | 91 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
Buckingham County within VA
Buckingham County ranks 47 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 420 ft, Buckingham County sits close to 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 Farmville (2 mi N), VA, 30 km away (fair 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.