Will Pipes Freeze in Caroline County, VA? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Caroline County
In a normal year Caroline County, VA gets 20 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 37% 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 | 94 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 20 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 20 nights of risk to 3 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 10/27, last around 04/14. For 20°F: 12/05 to 03/06.
How cold Caroline County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 28°F | 35°F | 45°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 66°F | 59°F | 47°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Caroline County next to its neighbours
Spotsylvania County, VA, 32 km northwest, gets 23 nights below 20°F to Caroline County's 20 nights. Hanover County, VA, 32 km south, gets 18 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County, VA | - | 94 nights | 20 nights | 26°F |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 32 km northwest | 100 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
| Hanover County, VA | 32 km south | 89 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 32 km north | 100 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| King George County, VA | 32 km northeast | 91 nights | 19 nights | 26°F |
| Essex County, VA | 38 km east | 78 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| King William County, VA | 42 km southeast | 83 nights | 18 nights | 29°F |
Caroline County within VA
Caroline County ranks 79 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 185 ft, Caroline County sits 262 ft below 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 Corbin, VA, 20 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.