Will Pipes Freeze in Henrico County, VA? 13 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Henrico County
In a normal year Henrico County, VA gets 13 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 30% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 77 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 13 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 13 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 11/04, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/19 to 02/27.
How cold Henrico County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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 under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 30°F | 37°F | 46°F | 56°F | 64°F | 69°F | 67°F | 61°F | 49°F | 38°F | 32°F |
Henrico County next to its neighbours
Richmond city, VA, 19 km northwest, gets 15 nights below 20°F to Henrico County's 13 nights. Hopewell city, VA, 16 km south, gets 8 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrico County, VA | - | 77 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Hopewell city, VA | 16 km south | 59 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Richmond city, VA | 19 km northwest | 84 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Colonial Heights city, VA | 21 km southwest | 83 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Charles City County, VA | 23 km east | 72 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 26 km west | 74 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Petersburg city, VA | 27 km south | 83 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
Henrico County within VA
Henrico County ranks 105 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 124 ft, Henrico County sits 323 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 Richmond International Airport, VA, 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.