Will Pipes Freeze in Florence County, SC? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Florence County
In a normal year Florence County, SC gets 4 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 15% 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 | 48 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 4 nights of risk to none. 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 11/13, last around 03/19. For 20°F: 01/01 to 01/27.
How cold Florence County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 38°F | 43°F | 51°F | 60°F | 68°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 53°F | 43°F | 37°F |
Florence County next to its neighbours
Darlington County, SC, 41 km northwest, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Florence County's 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence County, SC | - | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Marion County, SC | 33 km east | 51 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Darlington County, SC | 41 km northwest | 57 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 45 km south | 60 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Dillon County, SC | 51 km northeast | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Lee County, SC | 52 km west | 52 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Clarendon County, SC | 62 km southwest | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
Florence County within SC
Florence County ranks 33 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 118 ft, Florence County sits 142 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Florence Regional Airport, SC, 18 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.