Will Pipes Freeze in Nevada County, CA? 14 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Nevada County
In a normal year Nevada County, CA 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 November to April, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 122 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 14 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| 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 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 11/04, last around 05/04. For 20°F: 12/31 to 02/20.
How cold Nevada County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, December, averages 30°F overnight. 9 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January: 1 night a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 30°F | 31°F | 34°F | 42°F | 49°F | 56°F | 55°F | 51°F | 43°F | 35°F | 30°F |
Nevada County next to its neighbours
Sierra County, CA, 38 km northeast, gets 72 nights below 20°F to Nevada County's 14 nights. Placer County, CA, 27 km south, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada County, CA | - | 122 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
| Placer County, CA | 27 km south | 58 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Sierra County, CA | 38 km northeast | 220 nights | 72 nights | 20°F |
| Yuba County, CA | 49 km west | 33 nights | under 1 night | 37°F |
| El Dorado County, CA | 60 km south | 87 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Plumas County, CA | 77 km north | 166 nights | 35 nights | 24°F |
| Butte County, CA | 82 km northwest | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
Nevada County within CA
Nevada County ranks 8 of 58 CA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Mono County, CA at 130 nights, with a 13°F average winter low. The fewest is Orange County, CA: none, winter lows near 46°F. At 4,501 ft, Nevada County sits 3,203 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,298 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 Blue Canyon Airport, CA, 6 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.