Will Pipes Freeze in Chowan County, NC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Chowan County
In a normal year Chowan County, NC gets 5 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 17% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 48 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 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 5 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 11/14, last around 03/24. For 20°F: 01/08 to 02/03.
How cold Chowan County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 36°F | 41°F | 50°F | 59°F | 68°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 54°F | 44°F | 38°F |
Chowan County next to its neighbours
Perquimans County, NC, 19 km east, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Chowan County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chowan County, NC | - | 48 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Perquimans County, NC | 19 km east | 52 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Washington County, NC | 32 km south | 51 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Bertie County, NC | 33 km west | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Pasquotank County, NC | 34 km northeast | 54 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Gates County, NC | 36 km north | 85 nights | 19 nights | 28°F |
| Hertford County, NC | 43 km northwest | 80 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
Chowan County within NC
Chowan County ranks 91 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 15 ft, Chowan County sits 458 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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 Edenton, NC, 13 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.