Will Pipes Freeze in Putnam County, WV? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Putnam County
In a normal year Putnam County, WV gets 27 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 43% 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 | 104 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 7 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 10/30, last around 04/18. For 20°F: 12/02 to 03/10.
How cold Putnam County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°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, December: 7 nights a year, and 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 | 44°F | 34°F | 28°F |
Putnam County next to its neighbours
Mason County, WV, 31 km north, gets 45 nights below 20°F to Putnam County's 27 nights. Kanawha County, WV, 39 km southeast, gets 26 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County, WV | - | 104 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
| Mason County, WV | 31 km north | 126 nights | 45 nights | 20°F |
| Cabell County, WV | 31 km west | 109 nights | 32 nights | 27°F |
| Kanawha County, WV | 39 km southeast | 100 nights | 26 nights | 25°F |
| Lincoln County, WV | 41 km south | 120 nights | 37 nights | 23°F |
| Jackson County, WV | 41 km northeast | 117 nights | 36 nights | 22°F |
| Gallia County, OH | 48 km northwest | 111 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
Putnam County within WV
Putnam County ranks 51 of 55 WV counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Tucker County, WV at 70 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Mingo County, WV: 25 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 815 ft, Putnam County sits 397 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,213 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 Winfield Locks, WV, 2 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.