Will Pipes Freeze in Northumberland County, VA? 11 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Northumberland County
In a normal year Northumberland County, VA gets 11 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 | 73 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 11 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 11 nights of risk to 2 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 11/14, last around 03/30. For 20°F: 12/28 to 02/18.
How cold Northumberland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 31°F | 37°F | 46°F | 56°F | 65°F | 70°F | 68°F | 61°F | 50°F | 40°F | 33°F |
Northumberland County next to its neighbours
Lancaster County, VA, 17 km south, gets 12 nights below 20°F to Northumberland County's 11 nights. St. Mary's County, MD, 43 km north, gets 10 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland County, VA | - | 73 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Lancaster County, VA | 17 km south | 79 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Middlesex County, VA | 31 km southwest | 78 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Richmond County, VA | 32 km west | 77 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| St. Mary's County, MD | 43 km north | 65 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| Westmoreland County, VA | 47 km northwest | 74 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| King and Queen County, VA | 49 km west | 82 nights | 17 nights | 29°F |
Northumberland County within VA
Northumberland County ranks 117 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 47 ft, Northumberland County sits 401 ft below the state's median county elevation of 448 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 St Inigoes Webster Nolf, MD, 32 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.