Will Pipes Freeze in Newport County, RI? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Newport County
In a normal year Newport County, RI gets 27 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 43% 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 | 96 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 5 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 11/04, last around 04/11. For 20°F: 12/09 to 03/11.
How cold Newport County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 25°F | 31°F | 39°F | 49°F | 58°F | 64°F | 64°F | 58°F | 48°F | 38°F | 30°F |
Newport County next to its neighbours
Bristol County, RI, 23 km north, gets 32 nights below 20°F to Newport County's 27 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport County, RI | - | 96 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
| Bristol County, RI | 23 km north | 106 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Washington County, RI | 30 km west | 131 nights | 45 nights | 20°F |
| Kent County, RI | 31 km northwest | 134 nights | 45 nights | 19°F |
| Bristol County, MA | 32 km northeast | 124 nights | 41 nights | 20°F |
| Providence County, RI | 48 km northwest | 132 nights | 49 nights | 19°F |
| Dukes County, MA | 50 km east | 105 nights | 32 nights | 24°F |
Newport County within RI
Newport County ranks 5 of 5 RI counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Providence County, RI at 49 nights, with a 21°F average winter low. At 95 ft, Newport County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 138 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 Newport State Airport, RI, 4 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.