Will Pipes Freeze in Nez Perce County, ID? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Nez Perce County
In a normal year Nez Perce County, ID gets 20 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 36% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs October to March, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 109 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 20 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 20 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 10/26, last around 04/06. For 20°F: 12/05 to 02/09.
How cold Nez Perce County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, December, averages 26°F overnight. 9 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 5 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 29°F | 33°F | 37°F | 44°F | 49°F | 53°F | 53°F | 46°F | 38°F | 32°F | 26°F |
Nez Perce County next to its neighbours
Lewis County, ID, 28 km southeast, gets 40 nights below 20°F to Nez Perce County's 20 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nez Perce County, ID | - | 109 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Lewis County, ID | 28 km southeast | 159 nights | 40 nights | 23°F |
| Asotin County, WA | 40 km southwest | 179 nights | 52 nights | 20°F |
| Latah County, ID | 54 km north | 143 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Garfield County, WA | 60 km west | 125 nights | 25 nights | 27°F |
| Whitman County, WA | 87 km northwest | 128 nights | 26 nights | 27°F |
| Columbia County, WA | 88 km west | 111 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
Nez Perce County within ID
Nez Perce County ranks 44 of 44 ID counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Custer County, ID at 145 nights, with a 5°F average winter low. At 2,364 ft, Nez Perce County sits 2,283 ft below the state's median county elevation of 4,646 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 Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport, ID, 20 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.