Will Pipes Freeze in Jones County, NC? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Jones County
In a normal year Jones County, NC gets 7 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 22% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 62 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 7 nights of risk to under 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 04/05. For 20°F: 12/24 to 02/20.
How cold Jones County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 34°F | 39°F | 47°F | 57°F | 65°F | 69°F | 68°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 36°F |
Jones County next to its neighbours
Duplin County, NC, 54 km west, gets 9 nights below 20°F to Jones County's 7 nights. Craven County, NC, 27 km east, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County, NC | - | 62 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Craven County, NC | 27 km east | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Onslow County, NC | 33 km southwest | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Lenoir County, NC | 34 km northwest | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Duplin County, NC | 54 km west | 65 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Greene County, NC | 58 km northwest | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Pitt County, NC | 62 km north | 54 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
Jones County within NC
Jones County ranks 71 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 44 ft, Jones County sits 429 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 Richlands, NC, 19 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.