Will Pipes Freeze in Perry County, PA? 37 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Perry County
In a normal year Perry County, PA gets 37 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 53% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 115 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 37 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 37 nights of risk to 9 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 04/18. For 20°F: 12/05 to 03/14.
How cold Perry County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 24°F; the coldest month, January, averages 21°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, February, March, December: 9 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21°F | 23°F | 30°F | 40°F | 50°F | 58°F | 63°F | 62°F | 55°F | 43°F | 34°F | 27°F |
Perry County next to its neighbours
Juniata County, PA, 19 km northwest, gets 38 nights below 20°F to Perry County's 37 nights. Cumberland County, PA, 26 km south, gets 36 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County, PA | - | 115 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Juniata County, PA | 19 km northwest | 120 nights | 38 nights | 21°F |
| Cumberland County, PA | 26 km south | 119 nights | 36 nights | 21°F |
| Mifflin County, PA | 40 km northwest | 127 nights | 45 nights | 20°F |
| Dauphin County, PA | 40 km east | 125 nights | 42 nights | 21°F |
| Snyder County, PA | 43 km north | 136 nights | 48 nights | 20°F |
| Adams County, PA | 59 km south | 122 nights | 41 nights | 21°F |
Perry County within PA
Perry County ranks 59 of 67 PA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Susquehanna County, PA at 80 nights, with a 15°F average winter low. The fewest is Delaware County, PA: 15 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 726 ft, Perry County sits 415 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,141 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 Bloserville (1 mi N), PA, 17 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.