Will Pipes Freeze in McDowell County, WV? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in McDowell County
In a normal year McDowell County, WV gets 34 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 50% 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 | 120 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 8 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 10/17, last around 04/24. For 20°F: 11/19 to 03/15.
How cold McDowell County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 26°F | 32°F | 40°F | 49°F | 57°F | 62°F | 60°F | 54°F | 42°F | 32°F | 27°F |
McDowell County next to its neighbours
Tazewell County, VA, 30 km south, gets 43 nights below 20°F to McDowell County's 34 nights. Wyoming County, WV, 26 km north, gets 31 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County, WV | - | 120 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Wyoming County, WV | 26 km north | 116 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Tazewell County, VA | 30 km south | 129 nights | 43 nights | 22°F |
| Buchanan County, VA | 36 km west | 119 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Mercer County, WV | 49 km east | 121 nights | 42 nights | 23°F |
| Raleigh County, WV | 55 km northeast | 133 nights | 47 nights | 20°F |
| Bland County, VA | 55 km southeast | 122 nights | 43 nights | 22°F |
McDowell County within WV
McDowell County ranks 42 of 55 WV counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Tucker County, WV at 70 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Mingo County, WV: 25 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 1,791 ft, McDowell County sits 578 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,213 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Elkhorn, WV, 22 km away (fair 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.