Will Pipes Freeze in Richmond city, VA? 15 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Richmond city
In a normal year Richmond city, VA gets 15 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 32% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 84 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 15 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 15 nights of risk to 2 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 11/04, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/19 to 02/27.
How cold Richmond city nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 28°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°F | 30°F | 36°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 68°F | 67°F | 60°F | 48°F | 38°F | 31°F |
Richmond city next to its neighbours
Hanover County, VA, 25 km north, gets 18 nights below 20°F to Richmond city's 15 nights. Henrico County, VA, 19 km southeast, gets 13 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond city, VA | - | 84 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Henrico County, VA | 19 km southeast | 77 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 20 km southwest | 74 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Hanover County, VA | 25 km north | 89 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Colonial Heights city, VA | 31 km south | 83 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Hopewell city, VA | 31 km southeast | 59 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Petersburg city, VA | 37 km south | 83 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
Richmond city within VA
Richmond city ranks 99 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 73 ft, Richmond city sits 374 ft below 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 Richmond International Airport, VA, 14 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.