Will Pipes Freeze in Linn County, OR? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Linn County
In a normal year Linn County, OR gets 3 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 13% 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 | 65 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 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 3 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 10/13, last around 04/29. For 20°F: 12/20 to 01/10.
How cold Linn County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 9 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 34°F | 36°F | 39°F | 44°F | 48°F | 51°F | 50°F | 47°F | 42°F | 37°F | 34°F |
Linn County next to its neighbours
Benton County, OR, 70 km west, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Linn County's 3 nights. Lane County, OR, 69 km southwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County, OR | - | 65 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Marion County, OR | 46 km north | 75 nights | 3 nights | 33°F |
| Lane County, OR | 69 km southwest | 46 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Benton County, OR | 70 km west | 80 nights | 5 nights | 29°F |
| Clackamas County, OR | 79 km north | 68 nights | 3 nights | 33°F |
| Polk County, OR | 82 km northwest | 64 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Yamhill County, OR | 104 km northwest | 46 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
Linn County within OR
Linn County ranks 25 of 36 OR counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Baker County, OR at 76 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Lincoln County, OR: under 1 night, winter lows near 40°F. At 1,703 ft, Linn County sits 314 ft below the state's median county elevation of 2,017 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 Cascadia, OR, 12 km away (fair 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.