Will Pipes Freeze in Henry County, VA? 26 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Henry County
In a normal year Henry County, VA gets 26 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 42% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 108 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 26 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 26 nights of risk to 3 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 10/21, last around 04/24. For 20°F: 11/20 to 03/17.
How cold Henry County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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, December: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 64°F | 57°F | 44°F | 34°F | 28°F |
Henry County next to its neighbours
Martinsville city, VA, 13 km northeast, gets 29 nights below 20°F to Henry County's 26 nights. Patrick County, VA, 28 km west, gets 18 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County, VA | - | 108 nights | 26 nights | 25°F |
| Martinsville city, VA | 13 km northeast | 113 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Patrick County, VA | 28 km west | 97 nights | 18 nights | 25°F |
| Rockingham County, NC | 32 km southeast | 86 nights | 14 nights | 28°F |
| Stokes County, NC | 36 km southwest | 96 nights | 20 nights | 28°F |
| Franklin County, VA | 42 km north | 102 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Floyd County, VA | 48 km northwest | 121 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
Henry County within VA
Henry County ranks 56 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 935 ft, Henry County sits 488 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 Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA, 14 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.