Will Pipes Freeze in Grays Harbor County, WA? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Grays Harbor County
In a normal year Grays Harbor County, WA gets 2 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 9% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 57 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 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 2 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 10/22, last around 04/26. For 20°F: 12/16 to 01/02.
How cold Grays Harbor County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, February, averages 35°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 35°F | 36°F | 39°F | 44°F | 48°F | 52°F | 52°F | 49°F | 43°F | 38°F | 35°F |
Grays Harbor County next to its neighbours
Mason County, WA, 56 km northeast, gets 3 nights below 20°F to Grays Harbor County's 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grays Harbor County, WA | - | 57 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Mason County, WA | 56 km northeast | 61 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Pacific County, WA | 62 km south | 79 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Thurston County, WA | 78 km east | 70 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Jefferson County, WA | 80 km north | 61 nights | 2 nights | 34°F |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 96 km south | 76 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Kitsap County, WA | 106 km northeast | 46 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
Grays Harbor County within WA
Grays Harbor County ranks 38 of 39 WA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Ferry County, WA at 62 nights, with a 18°F average winter low. The fewest is Island County, WA: 1 night, winter lows near 37°F. At 284 ft, Grays Harbor County sits 1,336 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,620 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.
A few nights a year catches houses that were never built for it: pipes 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 Humptulips Salmon Hatchery, WA, 18 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.