Will Pipes Freeze in Mecklenburg County, VA? 14 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Mecklenburg County
In a normal year Mecklenburg County, VA gets 14 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 30% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 84 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 14 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 14 nights of risk to 2 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 11/01, last around 04/05. For 20°F: 12/18 to 02/25.
How cold Mecklenburg County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 31°F | 37°F | 46°F | 56°F | 65°F | 69°F | 68°F | 61°F | 48°F | 38°F | 32°F |
Mecklenburg County next to its neighbours
Lunenburg County, VA, 31 km north, gets 16 nights below 20°F to Mecklenburg County's 14 nights. Warren County, NC, 40 km southeast, gets 13 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, VA | - | 84 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Lunenburg County, VA | 31 km north | 90 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Vance County, NC | 36 km south | 84 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Warren County, NC | 40 km southeast | 80 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Charlotte County, VA | 44 km northwest | 95 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Brunswick County, VA | 46 km east | 100 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Granville County, NC | 50 km southwest | 70 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
Mecklenburg County within VA
Mecklenburg County ranks 104 of 133 VA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Highland County, VA at 62 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Norfolk city, VA: 4 nights, winter lows near 35°F. At 371 ft, Mecklenburg County sits 76 ft below the state's median county elevation of 448 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is John H Kerr Dam, VA, 11 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.