Will Pipes Freeze in Calhoun County, SC? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Calhoun County
In a normal year Calhoun County, SC gets 3 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 13% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 41 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 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 3 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 11/15, last around 03/13. For 20°F: 01/07 to 01/22.
How cold Calhoun County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 44°F | 52°F | 60°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 54°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Calhoun County next to its neighbours
Sumter County, SC, 46 km northeast, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Calhoun County's 3 nights. Orangeburg County, SC, 27 km south, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County, SC | - | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Orangeburg County, SC | 27 km south | 38 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Richland County, SC | 41 km north | 36 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Sumter County, SC | 46 km northeast | 55 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Lexington County, SC | 52 km northwest | 54 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Clarendon County, SC | 52 km east | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Bamberg County, SC | 58 km southwest | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Calhoun County within SC
Calhoun County ranks 37 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 242 ft, Calhoun County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 260 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Orangeburg 2, SC, 22 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.