Will Pipes Freeze in Goochland County, VA? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Goochland County
In a normal year Goochland County, VA gets 27 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 43% 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 | 108 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 5 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 10/27, last around 04/17. For 20°F: 12/01 to 03/11.
How cold Goochland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°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: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 52°F | 61°F | 66°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Goochland County next to its neighbours
Louisa County, VA, 28 km north, gets 30 nights below 20°F to Goochland County's 27 nights. Powhatan County, VA, 19 km south, gets 26 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goochland County, VA | - | 108 nights | 27 nights | 26°F |
| Powhatan County, VA | 19 km south | 105 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Louisa County, VA | 28 km north | 110 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
| Fluvanna County, VA | 34 km west | 113 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
| Cumberland County, VA | 37 km southwest | 106 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Hanover County, VA | 38 km east | 89 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Amelia County, VA | 43 km south | 92 nights | 20 nights | 28°F |
Goochland County within VA
Goochland County ranks 54 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 267 ft, Goochland County sits 180 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 Crozier, VA, 7 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.