Will Pipes Freeze in Nelson County, VA? 35 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Nelson County
In a normal year Nelson County, VA gets 35 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 51% 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 | 119 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 35 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 35 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 10/23, last around 04/21. For 20°F: 11/28 to 03/13.
How cold Nelson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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, March, December: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 31°F | 40°F | 50°F | 59°F | 63°F | 62°F | 54°F | 43°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Nelson County next to its neighbours
Amherst County, VA, 30 km southwest, gets 30 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, VA | - | 119 nights | 35 nights | 23°F |
| Amherst County, VA | 30 km southwest | 114 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Waynesboro city, VA | 31 km north | 119 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Albemarle County, VA | 39 km northeast | 91 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Buckingham County, VA | 39 km southeast | 111 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Buena Vista city, VA | 42 km west | 114 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Staunton city, VA | 44 km north | 118 nights | 35 nights | 24°F |
Nelson County within VA
Nelson County ranks 21 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 1,623 ft, Nelson County sits 1,175 ft above 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Waynesboro Water Plant, VA, 32 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.