Will Pipes Freeze in Pittsylvania County, VA? 37 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Pittsylvania County
In a normal year Pittsylvania County, VA 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 | 125 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 37 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 37 nights of risk to 5 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 10/23, last around 04/22. For 20°F: 11/24 to 03/13.
How cold Pittsylvania County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 26°F | 32°F | 41°F | 51°F | 60°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 43°F | 32°F | 27°F |
Pittsylvania County next to its neighbours
Danville city, VA, 27 km south, gets 14 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsylvania County, VA | - | 125 nights | 37 nights | 24°F |
| Danville city, VA | 27 km south | 87 nights | 14 nights | 28°F |
| Halifax County, VA | 41 km east | 109 nights | 25 nights | 26°F |
| Martinsville city, VA | 44 km west | 113 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Franklin County, VA | 47 km northwest | 102 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Caswell County, NC | 48 km south | 85 nights | 14 nights | 28°F |
| Campbell County, VA | 51 km northeast | 103 nights | 24 nights | 26°F |
Pittsylvania County within VA
Pittsylvania County ranks 14 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 694 ft, Pittsylvania County sits 246 ft above 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.
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 Chatham, VA, 1 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.