Will Pipes Freeze in Pierce County, WA? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Pierce County
In a normal year Pierce County, WA gets 4 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 16% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 70 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 10/31, last around 04/18. For 20°F: 12/16 to 01/18.
How cold Pierce County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, December, averages 33°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 33°F | 35°F | 38°F | 44°F | 48°F | 52°F | 52°F | 48°F | 42°F | 36°F | 33°F |
Pierce County next to its neighbours
Thurston County, WA, 53 km west, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Pierce County's 4 nights. Kitsap County, WA, 75 km northwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County, WA | - | 70 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Thurston County, WA | 53 km west | 70 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| King County, WA | 54 km northeast | 78 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Lewis County, WA | 55 km south | 74 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Kitsap County, WA | 75 km northwest | 46 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Mason County, WA | 84 km northwest | 61 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 103 km southwest | 43 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
Pierce County within WA
Pierce County ranks 28 of 39 WA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Ferry County, WA at 62 nights, with a 18°F average winter low. The fewest is Island County, WA: 1 night, winter lows near 37°F. At 1,358 ft, Pierce County sits 261 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,620 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 Mud Mountain Dam, WA, 19 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.