Will Pipes Freeze in Lexington County, SC? 8 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Lexington County
In a normal year Lexington County, SC gets 8 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 23% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 54 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 8 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 8 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 03/28. For 20°F: 12/14 to 02/16.
How cold Lexington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 43°F | 51°F | 61°F | 68°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 53°F | 42°F | 37°F |
Lexington County next to its neighbours
Newberry County, SC, 53 km northwest, gets 9 nights below 20°F to Lexington County's 8 nights. Richland County, SC, 38 km northeast, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington County, SC | - | 54 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Richland County, SC | 38 km northeast | 36 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Saluda County, SC | 44 km west | 67 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Aiken County, SC | 51 km southwest | 48 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Calhoun County, SC | 52 km southeast | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Newberry County, SC | 53 km northwest | 63 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| Fairfield County, SC | 58 km north | 65 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
Lexington County within SC
Lexington County ranks 12 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 497 ft, Lexington County sits 237 ft above 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Pelion (0.8 mi NW), SC, 14 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.