Will Pipes Freeze in Lee County, SC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Lee County
In a normal year Lee County, SC gets 5 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 18% 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 | 52 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 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 5 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 03/29. For 20°F: 12/24 to 02/05.
How cold Lee County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 35°F | 41°F | 50°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 69°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 36°F |
Lee County next to its neighbours
Kershaw County, SC, 37 km northwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Lee County's 5 nights. Florence County, SC, 52 km east, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, SC | - | 52 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Sumter County, SC | 30 km southwest | 55 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Darlington County, SC | 33 km northeast | 57 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Kershaw County, SC | 37 km northwest | 63 nights | 6 nights | 31°F |
| Florence County, SC | 52 km east | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 54 km north | 64 nights | 9 nights | 32°F |
| Clarendon County, SC | 55 km south | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
Lee County within SC
Lee County ranks 29 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 204 ft, Lee County sits 57 ft below the state's median county elevation of 260 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Bishopville (1 mi ENE), SC, 6 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.