Will Pipes Freeze in Grayson County, VA? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Grayson County
In a normal year Grayson County, VA gets 34 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 49% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to April, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 94 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 11 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 3 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 11 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 04/16. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/18.
How cold Grayson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°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, March, November, December: 11 nights a year, and 3 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 25°F | 31°F | 41°F | 51°F | 58°F | 62°F | 61°F | 55°F | 43°F | 34°F | 27°F |
Grayson County next to its neighbours
Alleghany County, NC, 20 km south, gets 35 nights below 20°F to Grayson County's 34 nights. Carroll County, VA, 44 km east, gets 31 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayson County, VA | - | 94 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
| Alleghany County, NC | 20 km south | 109 nights | 35 nights | 22°F |
| Galax city, VA | 27 km east | 123 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Wythe County, VA | 30 km northeast | 130 nights | 41 nights | 24°F |
| Ashe County, NC | 34 km southwest | 124 nights | 44 nights | 22°F |
| Smyth County, VA | 36 km northwest | 126 nights | 40 nights | 23°F |
| Carroll County, VA | 44 km east | 117 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
Grayson County within VA
Grayson County ranks 31 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 3,907 ft, Grayson County sits 3,460 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Elk Creek (4 mi SSW), VA, 3 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.