Will Pipes Freeze in Plumas County, CA? 35 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Plumas County
In a normal year Plumas County, CA gets 35 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 51% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to April, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 166 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 35 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 35 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 09/10, last around 06/11. For 20°F: 11/03 to 04/05.
How cold Plumas County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 24°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 10 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, 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 | 25°F | 28°F | 31°F | 38°F | 44°F | 49°F | 48°F | 43°F | 36°F | 29°F | 24°F |
Plumas County next to its neighbours
Sierra County, CA, 53 km southeast, gets 72 nights below 20°F to Plumas County's 35 nights. Butte County, CA, 76 km southwest, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumas County, CA | - | 166 nights | 35 nights | 24°F |
| Sierra County, CA | 53 km southeast | 220 nights | 72 nights | 20°F |
| Butte County, CA | 76 km southwest | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Nevada County, CA | 77 km south | 122 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
| Lassen County, CA | 82 km north | 176 nights | 49 nights | 22°F |
| Yuba County, CA | 92 km southwest | 33 nights | under 1 night | 37°F |
| Placer County, CA | 104 km south | 58 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
Plumas County within CA
Plumas County ranks 6 of 58 CA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Mono County, CA at 130 nights, with a 13°F average winter low. The fewest is Orange County, CA: none, winter lows near 46°F. At 6,407 ft, Plumas County sits 5,109 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,298 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Portola, CA, 37 km away (distant 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.