Will Pipes Freeze in Franklin County, VA? 21 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Franklin County
In a normal year Franklin County, VA gets 21 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 37% 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 | 102 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 21 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 21 nights of risk to 3 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 10/25, last around 04/20. For 20°F: 11/29 to 03/04.
How cold Franklin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 27°F | 34°F | 42°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 44°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Franklin County next to its neighbours
Martinsville city, VA, 34 km south, gets 29 nights below 20°F to Franklin County's 21 nights. Roanoke city, VA, 33 km north, gets 15 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, VA | - | 102 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Roanoke city, VA | 33 km north | 84 nights | 15 nights | 27°F |
| Martinsville city, VA | 34 km south | 113 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Salem city, VA | 36 km northwest | 85 nights | 16 nights | 27°F |
| Floyd County, VA | 42 km west | 121 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Henry County, VA | 42 km south | 108 nights | 26 nights | 25°F |
| Roanoke County, VA | 47 km northwest | 120 nights | 38 nights | 23°F |
Franklin County within VA
Franklin County ranks 76 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 1,076 ft, Franklin County sits 629 ft above 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 Rocky Mount, VA, 2 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.