Will Pipes Freeze in Glenn County, CA? 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Glenn County
In a normal year Glenn County, CA gets 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 6% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs December to December, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 52 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 1 night |
| 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 1 night 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 04/05. For 20°F: 12/27 to 12/31.
How cold Glenn County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, December, averages 34°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 36°F | 39°F | 42°F | 49°F | 56°F | 61°F | 59°F | 54°F | 47°F | 38°F | 34°F |
Glenn County next to its neighbours
Lake County, CA, 62 km southwest, gets 2 nights below 20°F to Glenn County's 1 night. Colusa County, CA, 49 km south, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn County, CA | - | 52 nights | 1 night | 35°F |
| Colusa County, CA | 49 km south | 17 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Tehama County, CA | 60 km north | 19 nights | under 1 night | 38°F |
| Lake County, CA | 62 km southwest | 64 nights | 2 nights | 33°F |
| Butte County, CA | 69 km east | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Sutter County, CA | 87 km southeast | 16 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Mendocino County, CA | 91 km west | 80 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
Glenn County within CA
Glenn County ranks 24 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 863 ft, Glenn County sits 436 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,298 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Stony Gorge Rsvr, CA, 12 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.