Will Pipes Freeze in Cumberland County, VA? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Cumberland County
In a normal year Cumberland County, VA gets 27 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 43% 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 | 106 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 4 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 10/17, last around 04/28. For 20°F: 11/17 to 03/20.
How cold Cumberland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 26°F | 33°F | 42°F | 53°F | 61°F | 66°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 34°F | 28°F |
Cumberland County next to its neighbours
Buckingham County, VA, 25 km west, gets 29 nights below 20°F to Cumberland County's 27 nights. Powhatan County, VA, 30 km east, gets 26 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County, VA | - | 106 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Buckingham County, VA | 25 km west | 111 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Powhatan County, VA | 30 km east | 105 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Amelia County, VA | 32 km southeast | 92 nights | 20 nights | 28°F |
| Fluvanna County, VA | 35 km north | 113 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
| Prince Edward County, VA | 36 km southwest | 99 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Goochland County, VA | 37 km northeast | 108 nights | 27 nights | 26°F |
Cumberland County within VA
Cumberland County ranks 55 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 373 ft, Cumberland County sits 74 ft below 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 Bremo Bluff, VA, 21 km away (fair 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.