Will Pipes Freeze in Richland County, SC? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Richland County
In a normal year Richland County, SC gets 3 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 11% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 36 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 3 nights of risk to none. 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 11/19, last around 03/13. For 20°F: 01/10 to 01/22.
How cold Richland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 45°F | 53°F | 61°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 66°F | 54°F | 44°F | 38°F |
Richland County next to its neighbours
Lexington County, SC, 38 km southwest, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Richland County's 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County, SC | - | 36 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Lexington County, SC | 38 km southwest | 54 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Calhoun County, SC | 41 km south | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Kershaw County, SC | 45 km northeast | 63 nights | 6 nights | 31°F |
| Fairfield County, SC | 46 km northwest | 65 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Sumter County, SC | 49 km east | 55 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Lee County, SC | 61 km east | 52 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
Richland County within SC
Richland County ranks 38 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 260 ft, Richland County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 260 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport, SC, 11 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.