Will Pipes Freeze in Cabell County, WV? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Cabell County
In a normal year Cabell County, WV 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 | 109 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 32 nights of risk to 8 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 11/01, last around 04/08. For 20°F: 12/08 to 03/01.
How cold Cabell County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 28°F | 35°F | 44°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 65°F | 58°F | 46°F | 36°F | 31°F |
Cabell County next to its neighbours
Lincoln County, WV, 31 km southeast, gets 37 nights below 20°F to Cabell County's 32 nights. Putnam County, WV, 31 km east, gets 27 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabell County, WV | - | 109 nights | 32 nights | 27°F |
| Putnam County, WV | 31 km east | 104 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
| Lincoln County, WV | 31 km southeast | 120 nights | 37 nights | 23°F |
| Lawrence County, OH | 31 km northwest | 122 nights | 40 nights | 22°F |
| Wayne County, WV | 34 km southwest | 97 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Boyd County, KY | 39 km west | 103 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Mason County, WV | 43 km northeast | 126 nights | 45 nights | 20°F |
Cabell County within WV
Cabell County ranks 46 of 55 WV counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Tucker County, WV at 70 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Mingo County, WV: 25 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 577 ft, Cabell County sits 635 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,213 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Pea Ridge Psd, WV, 5 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.