Will Pipes Freeze in Hampton County, SC? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hampton County
In a normal year Hampton County, SC 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 10% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. 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 | 30 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 11/26, last around 03/06. For 20°F: 01/12 to 01/21.
How cold Hampton County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 40°F; the coldest month, January, averages 39°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 41°F | 47°F | 54°F | 62°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 67°F | 56°F | 46°F | 41°F |
Hampton County next to its neighbours
Allendale County, SC, 30 km northwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Hampton County's 2 nights. Effingham County, GA, 50 km south, gets 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton County, SC | - | 30 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Allendale County, SC | 30 km northwest | 55 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Jasper County, SC | 40 km south | 26 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Screven County, GA | 44 km west | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Colleton County, SC | 46 km east | 44 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Bamberg County, SC | 48 km north | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Effingham County, GA | 50 km south | 27 nights | 1 night | 38°F |
Hampton County within SC
Hampton County ranks 43 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 117 ft, Hampton County sits 143 ft below the state's median county elevation of 260 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Hampton (1 mi S), SC, 8 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.