Will Pipes Freeze in McCormick County, SC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in McCormick County
In a normal year McCormick County, SC gets 5 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 18% 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 | 5 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 5 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 11/07, last around 03/28. For 20°F: 12/31 to 02/14.
How cold McCormick County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 34°F | 41°F | 48°F | 57°F | 67°F | 70°F | 69°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 35°F |
McCormick County next to its neighbours
Lincoln County, GA, 17 km southwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to McCormick County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCormick County, SC | - | 58 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Lincoln County, GA | 17 km southwest | 60 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Greenwood County, SC | 34 km northeast | 62 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Edgefield County, SC | 35 km east | 44 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Columbia County, GA | 39 km south | 60 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Abbeville County, SC | 39 km north | 61 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Wilkes County, GA | 42 km west | 52 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
McCormick County within SC
McCormick County ranks 25 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 427 ft, McCormick County sits 167 ft above 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.
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 McCormick, SC, 3 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.