Will Pipes Freeze in Morgan County, WV? 39 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Morgan County
In a normal year Morgan County, WV gets 39 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 54% 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 | 121 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 39 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 10 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 39 nights of risk to 10 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 10/21, last around 04/23. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/17.
How cold Morgan County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 23°F; the coldest month, January, averages 21°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, February, March, December: 10 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21°F | 23°F | 30°F | 40°F | 49°F | 58°F | 62°F | 61°F | 53°F | 42°F | 32°F | 25°F |
Morgan County next to its neighbours
Fulton County, PA, 41 km north, gets 41 nights below 20°F to Morgan County's 39 nights. Berkeley County, WV, 22 km southeast, gets 32 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County, WV | - | 121 nights | 39 nights | 21°F |
| Berkeley County, WV | 22 km southeast | 111 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Washington County, MD | 38 km east | 104 nights | 27 nights | 23°F |
| Allegany County, MD | 39 km west | 114 nights | 33 nights | 22°F |
| Frederick County, VA | 39 km south | 114 nights | 36 nights | 22°F |
| Fulton County, PA | 41 km north | 122 nights | 41 nights | 22°F |
| Hampshire County, WV | 41 km southwest | 134 nights | 46 nights | 20°F |
Morgan County within WV
Morgan County ranks 31 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 894 ft, Morgan County sits 319 ft below 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.
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 Cacapon St Park #2, WV, 6 km away (close 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.