Will Pipes Freeze in Richmond County, NY? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Richmond County
In a normal year Richmond County, NY gets 22 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 38% 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 | 82 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 22 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 22 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 11/19, last around 04/01. For 20°F: 12/26 to 03/01.
How cold Richmond County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 28°F | 34°F | 44°F | 54°F | 64°F | 69°F | 68°F | 61°F | 49°F | 40°F | 32°F |
Richmond County next to its neighbours
Union County, NJ, 18 km northwest, gets 35 nights below 20°F to Richmond County's 22 nights. Kings County, NY, 18 km northeast, gets 16 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County, NY | - | 82 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Kings County, NY | 18 km northeast | 66 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Union County, NJ | 18 km northwest | 111 nights | 35 nights | 25°F |
| Hudson County, NJ | 20 km north | 80 nights | 20 nights | 26°F |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 26 km southwest | 110 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Essex County, NJ | 27 km north | 117 nights | 38 nights | 22°F |
| Queens County, NY | 27 km east | 71 nights | 16 nights | 27°F |
Richmond County within NY
Richmond County ranks 57 of 62 NY counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Franklin County, NY at 107 nights, with a 7°F average winter low. The fewest is Bronx County, NY: 16 nights, winter lows near 30°F. At 87 ft, Richmond County sits 801 ft below the state's median county elevation of 888 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 Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY, 14 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.