Will Pipes Freeze in Emporia city, VA? 13 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Emporia city
In a normal year Emporia city, VA gets 13 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 30% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 83 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 13 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 13 nights of risk to 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 03/31. For 20°F: 12/28 to 02/18.
How cold Emporia city nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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: 1 night a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 31°F | 37°F | 46°F | 56°F | 65°F | 69°F | 68°F | 62°F | 49°F | 38°F | 32°F |
Emporia city next to its neighbours
Brunswick County, VA, 30 km west, gets 23 nights below 20°F to Emporia city's 13 nights. Northampton County, NC, 33 km south, gets 12 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia city, VA | - | 83 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Greensville County, VA | 3 km southwest | 83 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Brunswick County, VA | 30 km west | 100 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Northampton County, NC | 33 km south | 80 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Sussex County, VA | 36 km northeast | 91 nights | 16 nights | 27°F |
| Southampton County, VA | 39 km east | 82 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 43 km north | 94 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
Emporia city within VA
Emporia city ranks 107 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 100 ft, Emporia city sits 347 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 Emporia (1 mi WNW), VA, 2 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.