Will Pipes Freeze in Darlington County, SC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Darlington County
In a normal year Darlington County, SC 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 18% 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 | 57 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 11/06, last around 03/30. For 20°F: 12/25 to 02/14.
How cold Darlington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 34°F | 40°F | 49°F | 58°F | 67°F | 71°F | 69°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 35°F |
Darlington County next to its neighbours
Chesterfield County, SC, 38 km northwest, gets 9 nights below 20°F to Darlington County's 5 nights. Florence County, SC, 41 km southeast, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington County, SC | - | 57 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Lee County, SC | 33 km southwest | 52 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 38 km northwest | 64 nights | 9 nights | 32°F |
| Marlboro County, SC | 40 km northeast | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Florence County, SC | 41 km southeast | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Dillon County, SC | 54 km east | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Kershaw County, SC | 58 km west | 63 nights | 6 nights | 31°F |
Darlington County within SC
Darlington County ranks 27 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 181 ft, Darlington County sits 80 ft below the state's median county elevation of 260 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Darlington, SC, 9 km away (close 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.