Will Pipes Freeze in Cumberland County, PA? 36 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Cumberland County
In a normal year Cumberland County, PA gets 36 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 52% 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 | 119 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 36 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 36 nights of risk to 9 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 10/18, last around 04/23. For 20°F: 11/27 to 03/16.
How cold Cumberland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 23°F; the coldest month, January, averages 21°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, March, December: 9 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21°F | 22°F | 30°F | 39°F | 49°F | 59°F | 63°F | 61°F | 54°F | 42°F | 33°F | 26°F |
Cumberland County next to its neighbours
Perry County, PA, 26 km north, gets 37 nights below 20°F to Cumberland County's 36 nights. Franklin County, PA, 47 km southwest, gets 31 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County, PA | - | 119 nights | 36 nights | 21°F |
| Perry County, PA | 26 km north | 115 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Adams County, PA | 33 km south | 122 nights | 41 nights | 21°F |
| Juniata County, PA | 42 km north | 120 nights | 38 nights | 21°F |
| Franklin County, PA | 47 km southwest | 108 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Dauphin County, PA | 49 km northeast | 125 nights | 42 nights | 21°F |
| York County, PA | 53 km southeast | 120 nights | 38 nights | 21°F |
Cumberland County within PA
Cumberland County ranks 60 of 67 PA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Susquehanna County, PA at 80 nights, with a 15°F average winter low. The fewest is Delaware County, PA: 15 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 563 ft, Cumberland County sits 578 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,141 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 Carlisle Water Plant, PA, 9 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.