Will Pipes Freeze in Loudoun County, VA? 31 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Loudoun County
In a normal year Loudoun County, VA gets 31 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 47% 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 | 31 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 31 nights of risk to 6 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 10/25, last around 04/16. For 20°F: 12/01 to 03/10.
How cold Loudoun County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 26°F | 33°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 66°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 35°F | 29°F |
Loudoun County next to its neighbours
Clarke County, VA, 31 km west, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Loudoun County's 31 nights. Montgomery County, MD, 38 km east, gets 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loudoun County, VA | - | 114 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
| Clarke County, VA | 31 km west | 116 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Jefferson County, WV | 32 km northwest | 114 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Montgomery County, MD | 38 km east | 87 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Manassas Park city, VA | 39 km southeast | 95 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Fairfax city, VA | 39 km southeast | 100 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Manassas city, VA | 40 km south | 94 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
Loudoun County within VA
Loudoun County ranks 38 of 133 VA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Highland County, VA at 62 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Norfolk city, VA: 4 nights, winter lows near 35°F. At 681 ft, Loudoun County sits 234 ft above the state's median county elevation of 448 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Purcellville, VA, 9 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.