Will Pipes Freeze in Clackamas County, OR? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Clackamas County
In a normal year Clackamas County, OR 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 December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 68 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 11/04, last around 04/27. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/18.
How cold Clackamas County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, December, averages 33°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 34°F | 35°F | 38°F | 43°F | 48°F | 52°F | 52°F | 49°F | 42°F | 37°F | 33°F |
Clackamas County next to its neighbours
Hood River County, OR, 57 km northeast, gets 17 nights below 20°F to Clackamas County's 3 nights. Multnomah County, OR, 46 km north, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clackamas County, OR | - | 68 nights | 3 nights | 33°F |
| Marion County, OR | 42 km southwest | 75 nights | 3 nights | 33°F |
| Multnomah County, OR | 46 km north | 31 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Hood River County, OR | 57 km northeast | 140 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Clark County, WA | 72 km north | 71 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Linn County, OR | 79 km south | 65 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Wasco County, OR | 81 km east | 130 nights | 19 nights | 26°F |
Clackamas County within OR
Clackamas County ranks 24 of 36 OR counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Baker County, OR at 76 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Lincoln County, OR: under 1 night, winter lows near 40°F. At 2,131 ft, Clackamas County sits 114 ft above the state's median county elevation of 2,017 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 Scotts Mills (9 mi SE), OR, 35 km away (fair match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. Why elevation is part of the blend: how county numbers are made.