Will Pipes Freeze in Marlboro County, SC? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Marlboro County
In a normal year Marlboro County, SC gets 6 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 20% 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 | 58 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/08, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/30 to 02/02.
How cold Marlboro County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 42°F | 50°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 52°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Marlboro County next to its neighbours
Chesterfield County, SC, 44 km west, gets 9 nights below 20°F to Marlboro County's 6 nights. Darlington County, SC, 40 km southwest, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlboro County, SC | - | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Scotland County, NC | 32 km northeast | 57 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Dillon County, SC | 36 km southeast | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Darlington County, SC | 40 km southwest | 57 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 44 km west | 64 nights | 9 nights | 32°F |
| Richmond County, NC | 45 km north | 67 nights | 10 nights | 33°F |
| Robeson County, NC | 53 km east | 53 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
Marlboro County within SC
Marlboro County ranks 20 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 146 ft, Marlboro County sits 114 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 McColl (3 mi NNW), SC, 15 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.