Will Pipes Freeze in Frederick County, MD? 23 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Frederick County
In a normal year Frederick County, MD gets 23 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 39% 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 | 90 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 23 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 23 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 11/06, last around 04/02. For 20°F: 12/24 to 02/28.
How cold Frederick County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 28°F | 34°F | 44°F | 54°F | 63°F | 68°F | 66°F | 58°F | 46°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Frederick County next to its neighbours
Carroll County, MD, 34 km east, gets 35 nights below 20°F to Frederick County's 23 nights. Montgomery County, MD, 41 km southeast, gets 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick County, MD | - | 90 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
| Carroll County, MD | 34 km east | 112 nights | 35 nights | 22°F |
| Washington County, MD | 39 km northwest | 104 nights | 27 nights | 23°F |
| Montgomery County, MD | 41 km southeast | 87 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Jefferson County, WV | 44 km southwest | 114 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Adams County, PA | 47 km north | 122 nights | 41 nights | 21°F |
| Howard County, MD | 47 km southeast | 87 nights | 20 nights | 26°F |
Frederick County within MD
Frederick County ranks 8 of 24 MD counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Garrett County, MD at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Baltimore city, MD: 10 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 265 ft, Frederick County sits 127 ft above the state's median county elevation of 138 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Frederick Police Brks, MD, 7 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.