Will Pipes Freeze in Harnett County, NC? 9 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Harnett County
In a normal year Harnett County, NC gets 9 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 25% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 76 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 9 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 9 nights of risk to 1 night. 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 11/06, last around 03/30. For 20°F: 12/29 to 02/07.
How cold Harnett County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°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: 1 night a year, and none below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 32°F | 39°F | 47°F | 57°F | 65°F | 70°F | 68°F | 62°F | 49°F | 37°F | 32°F |
Harnett County next to its neighbours
Lee County, NC, 30 km northwest, gets 12 nights below 20°F to Harnett County's 9 nights. Cumberland County, NC, 36 km south, gets 6 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harnett County, NC | - | 76 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Lee County, NC | 30 km northwest | 77 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Cumberland County, NC | 36 km south | 62 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Johnston County, NC | 48 km east | 75 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| Chatham County, NC | 51 km northwest | 74 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Wake County, NC | 51 km northeast | 62 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Hoke County, NC | 52 km southwest | 80 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
Harnett County within NC
Harnett County ranks 57 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 186 ft, Harnett County sits 287 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Lillington, NC, 6 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.