Will Pipes Freeze in El Dorado County, CA? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in El Dorado County
In a normal year El Dorado County, CA 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 February.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 87 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 11/02, last around 04/26. For 20°F: 01/01 to 02/05.
How cold El Dorado County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 32°F; the coldest month, December, averages 31°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 | 32°F | 34°F | 37°F | 43°F | 49°F | 55°F | 54°F | 50°F | 42°F | 36°F | 31°F |
El Dorado County next to its neighbours
Nevada County, CA, 60 km north, gets 14 nights below 20°F to El Dorado County's 5 nights. Placer County, CA, 35 km northwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dorado County, CA | - | 87 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Placer County, CA | 35 km northwest | 58 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Amador County, CA | 39 km south | 31 nights | 1 night | 37°F |
| Nevada County, CA | 60 km north | 122 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
| Calaveras County, CA | 66 km south | 35 nights | under 1 night | 36°F |
| Alpine County, CA | 66 km east | 189 nights | 58 nights | 22°F |
| Carson City, NV | 79 km northeast | 149 nights | 45 nights | 24°F |
El Dorado County within CA
El Dorado County ranks 11 of 58 CA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Mono County, CA at 130 nights, with a 13°F average winter low. The fewest is Orange County, CA: none, winter lows near 46°F. At 4,097 ft, El Dorado County sits 2,799 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,298 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 Pacific House, CA, 4 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.