Will Pipes Freeze in Northampton County, VA? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Northampton County
In a normal year Northampton County, VA gets 6 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 19% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 52 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 6 nights of risk to under 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 11/17, last around 03/28. For 20°F: 01/03 to 02/10.
How cold Northampton County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 33°F | 39°F | 48°F | 58°F | 66°F | 71°F | 69°F | 64°F | 53°F | 43°F | 36°F |
Northampton County next to its neighbours
Mathews County, VA, 33 km northwest, gets 10 nights below 20°F to Northampton County's 6 nights. Hampton city, VA, 44 km southwest, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County, VA | - | 52 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Mathews County, VA | 33 km northwest | 69 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Poquoson city, VA | 39 km southwest | 52 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| York County, VA | 43 km west | 62 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Hampton city, VA | 44 km southwest | 47 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Norfolk city, VA | 51 km southwest | 40 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Accomack County, VA | 54 km north | 62 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
Northampton County within VA
Northampton County ranks 128 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 29 ft, Northampton County sits 418 ft below the state's median county elevation of 448 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Cape Charles (5 mi ENE), VA, 1 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.