Will Pipes Freeze in Onslow County, NC? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Onslow County
In a normal year Onslow County, NC 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 20% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 58 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 11/08, last around 03/31. For 20°F: 01/01 to 02/08.
How cold Onslow County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 35°F | 41°F | 49°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 52°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Onslow County next to its neighbours
Jones County, NC, 33 km northeast, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Onslow County's 6 nights. Craven County, NC, 55 km northeast, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County, NC | - | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Jones County, NC | 33 km northeast | 62 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Duplin County, NC | 44 km northwest | 65 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Pender County, NC | 45 km southwest | 57 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Lenoir County, NC | 54 km north | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Craven County, NC | 55 km northeast | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| New Hanover County, NC | 73 km southwest | 42 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Onslow County within NC
Onslow County ranks 78 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 41 ft, Onslow County sits 432 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Jacksonville Eoc, NC, 10 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.