Will Pipes Freeze in Marion County, SC? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Marion County
In a normal year Marion County, SC gets 4 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 15% 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 | 51 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 11/11, last around 03/22. For 20°F: 12/31 to 01/30.
How cold Marion County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 36°F | 42°F | 49°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 69°F | 64°F | 52°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Marion County next to its neighbours
Dillon County, SC, 34 km north, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Marion County's 4 nights. Horry County, SC, 40 km southeast, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County, SC | - | 51 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Florence County, SC | 33 km west | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Dillon County, SC | 34 km north | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Horry County, SC | 40 km southeast | 38 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 61 km southwest | 60 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Darlington County, SC | 62 km northwest | 57 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Marlboro County, SC | 65 km northwest | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
Marion County within SC
Marion County ranks 31 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 62 ft, Marion County sits 198 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Marion, SC, 10 km away (close 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.