Will Pipes Freeze in Charlotte County, VA? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Charlotte County
In a normal year Charlotte 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 36% 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 | 95 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 10/30, last around 04/10. For 20°F: 12/06 to 03/02.
How cold Charlotte County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 29°F | 35°F | 44°F | 54°F | 63°F | 67°F | 65°F | 59°F | 46°F | 36°F | 30°F |
Charlotte County next to its neighbours
Prince Edward County, VA, 31 km northeast, gets 21 nights below 20°F to Charlotte County's 20 nights. Lunenburg County, VA, 38 km east, gets 16 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte County, VA | - | 95 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Prince Edward County, VA | 31 km northeast | 99 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Halifax County, VA | 37 km southwest | 109 nights | 25 nights | 26°F |
| Lunenburg County, VA | 38 km east | 90 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Appomattox County, VA | 42 km north | 96 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Mecklenburg County, VA | 44 km southeast | 84 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Campbell County, VA | 45 km northwest | 103 nights | 24 nights | 26°F |
Charlotte County within VA
Charlotte County ranks 81 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 476 ft, Charlotte 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 Charlotte Court House, VA, 5 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.