Will Pipes Freeze in Carroll County, VA? 31 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Carroll County
In a normal year Carroll County, VA gets 31 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 47% 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 | 117 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 31 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 31 nights of risk to 6 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 10/14, last around 04/26. For 20°F: 11/17 to 03/19.
How cold Carroll County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°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: 6 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 | 31°F | 40°F | 49°F | 57°F | 61°F | 60°F | 54°F | 42°F | 32°F | 27°F |
Carroll County next to its neighbours
Galax city, VA, 18 km southwest, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Carroll County's 31 nights. Surry County, NC, 35 km south, gets 25 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County, VA | - | 117 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Galax city, VA | 18 km southwest | 123 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Surry County, NC | 35 km south | 111 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Wythe County, VA | 37 km northwest | 130 nights | 41 nights | 24°F |
| Pulaski County, VA | 37 km north | 118 nights | 33 nights | 24°F |
| Patrick County, VA | 40 km east | 97 nights | 18 nights | 25°F |
| Floyd County, VA | 40 km northeast | 121 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
Carroll County within VA
Carroll County ranks 37 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 2,663 ft, Carroll County sits 2,216 ft above 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.
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 Galax Radio Wbrf, VA, 18 km away (fair 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.