Will Pipes Freeze in Roanoke city, VA? 15 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Roanoke city
In a normal year Roanoke 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 November 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 11/01, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/13 to 02/26.
How cold Roanoke city nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 29°F | 36°F | 45°F | 54°F | 62°F | 66°F | 65°F | 58°F | 47°F | 36°F | 31°F |
Roanoke city next to its neighbours
Roanoke County, VA, 21 km west, gets 38 nights below 20°F to Roanoke city's 15 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke city, VA | - | 84 nights | 15 nights | 27°F |
| Salem city, VA | 9 km west | 85 nights | 16 nights | 27°F |
| Roanoke County, VA | 21 km west | 120 nights | 38 nights | 23°F |
| Craig County, VA | 32 km northwest | 132 nights | 45 nights | 22°F |
| Franklin County, VA | 33 km south | 102 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Botetourt County, VA | 35 km northeast | 102 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Bedford County, VA | 38 km east | 85 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
Roanoke city within VA
Roanoke city ranks 97 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 975 ft, Roanoke city sits 527 ft above 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 Roanoke Regional Airport, VA, 5 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.