Will Pipes Freeze in Marion County, OR? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Marion County
In a normal year Marion 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 February.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 75 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 11/04, last around 04/27. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/18.
How cold Marion County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, December, averages 33°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 33°F | 34°F | 36°F | 41°F | 45°F | 50°F | 51°F | 49°F | 42°F | 36°F | 33°F |
Marion County next to its neighbours
Benton County, OR, 81 km southwest, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Marion County's 3 nights. Yamhill County, OR, 70 km northwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County, OR | - | 75 nights | 3 nights | 33°F |
| Clackamas County, OR | 42 km northeast | 68 nights | 3 nights | 33°F |
| Linn County, OR | 46 km south | 65 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Polk County, OR | 65 km west | 64 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Yamhill County, OR | 70 km northwest | 46 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Multnomah County, OR | 73 km north | 31 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Benton County, OR | 81 km southwest | 80 nights | 5 nights | 29°F |
Marion County within OR
Marion County ranks 26 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 2,347 ft, Marion County sits 330 ft above 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.
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 Scotts Mills (9 mi SE), OR, 7 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.