Will Pipes Freeze in Northampton County, NC? 12 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Northampton County
In a normal year Northampton County, NC gets 12 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 28% 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 | 80 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 12 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 12 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 11/01, last around 04/05. For 20°F: 12/18 to 02/26.
How cold Northampton County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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: 1 night a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 30°F | 36°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 68°F | 67°F | 61°F | 48°F | 38°F | 32°F |
Northampton County next to its neighbours
Greensville County, VA, 32 km northwest, gets 13 nights below 20°F to Northampton County's 12 nights. Halifax County, NC, 29 km southwest, gets 9 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County, NC | - | 80 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Halifax County, NC | 29 km southwest | 70 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Greensville County, VA | 32 km northwest | 83 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Emporia city, VA | 33 km north | 83 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Hertford County, NC | 38 km east | 80 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Southampton County, VA | 42 km northeast | 82 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Franklin city, VA | 50 km northeast | 79 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
Northampton County within NC
Northampton County ranks 41 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 106 ft, Northampton County sits 367 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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 Jackson, NC, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.