Will Pipes Freeze in Howard County, MD? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Howard County
In a normal year Howard County, MD gets 20 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 37% 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 | 87 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 20 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 20 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 11/09, last around 04/05. For 20°F: 12/21 to 03/03.
How cold Howard County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 28°F | 35°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 69°F | 67°F | 60°F | 49°F | 38°F | 31°F |
Howard County next to its neighbours
Montgomery County, MD, 27 km southwest, gets 21 nights below 20°F to Howard County's 20 nights. Baltimore city, MD, 28 km east, gets 10 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, MD | - | 87 nights | 20 nights | 26°F |
| Montgomery County, MD | 27 km southwest | 87 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Baltimore city, MD | 28 km east | 54 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| Baltimore County, MD | 34 km northeast | 85 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Carroll County, MD | 35 km north | 112 nights | 35 nights | 22°F |
| District of Columbia, DC | 40 km south | 80 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 43 km southeast | 74 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
Howard County within MD
Howard County ranks 11 of 24 MD counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Garrett County, MD at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Baltimore city, MD: 10 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 391 ft, Howard County sits 253 ft above the state's median county elevation of 138 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 Laurel (3 mi W), MD, 19 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.