Will Pipes Freeze in Prince George's County, MD? 26 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Prince George's County
In a normal year Prince George's County, MD gets 26 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 42% 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 | 99 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 26 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 26 nights of risk to 4 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 10/29, last around 04/09. For 20°F: 12/07 to 03/07.
How cold Prince George's County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 26°F | 33°F | 43°F | 54°F | 63°F | 68°F | 66°F | 59°F | 46°F | 36°F | 29°F |
Prince George's County next to its neighbours
District of Columbia, DC, 17 km northwest, gets 16 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | - | 99 nights | 26 nights | 25°F |
| District of Columbia, DC | 17 km northwest | 80 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Alexandria city, VA | 20 km west | 76 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Arlington County, VA | 23 km west | 83 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Falls Church city, VA | 29 km west | 92 nights | 21 nights | 25°F |
| Anne Arundel County, MD | 31 km northeast | 74 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Fairfax County, VA | 37 km west | 99 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
Prince George's County within MD
Prince George's County ranks 5 of 24 MD counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Garrett County, MD at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Baltimore city, MD: 10 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 176 ft, Prince George's County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 138 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 Upper Marlboro (3 mi NNW), MD, 7 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.