Will Pipes Freeze in Jefferson County, WV? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Jefferson County
In a normal year Jefferson County, WV gets 34 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 50% 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 | 114 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 7 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 10/22, last around 04/20. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/12.
How cold Jefferson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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: 7 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 24°F | 31°F | 41°F | 50°F | 59°F | 64°F | 62°F | 55°F | 43°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Jefferson County next to its neighbours
Clarke County, VA, 24 km southwest, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Jefferson County's 34 nights. Berkeley County, WV, 22 km northwest, gets 32 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, WV | - | 114 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Berkeley County, WV | 22 km northwest | 111 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Clarke County, VA | 24 km southwest | 116 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Winchester city, VA | 31 km southwest | 106 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Loudoun County, VA | 32 km southeast | 114 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
| Washington County, MD | 33 km north | 104 nights | 27 nights | 23°F |
| Frederick County, VA | 36 km west | 114 nights | 36 nights | 22°F |
Jefferson County within WV
Jefferson County ranks 43 of 55 WV counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Tucker County, WV at 70 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Mingo County, WV: 25 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 534 ft, Jefferson County sits 678 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,213 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Martinsburg E Wv Regional Airport, WV, 15 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.