Will Pipes Freeze in Robeson County, NC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Robeson County
In a normal year Robeson County, NC gets 5 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 16% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 53 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 5 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 11/10, last around 03/24. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/27.
How cold Robeson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 37°F | 42°F | 50°F | 59°F | 68°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 52°F | 42°F | 37°F |
Robeson County next to its neighbours
Dillon County, SC, 37 km southwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Robeson County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robeson County, NC | - | 53 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
| Dillon County, SC | 37 km southwest | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Scotland County, NC | 41 km northwest | 57 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Hoke County, NC | 44 km north | 80 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
| Bladen County, NC | 52 km east | 62 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Cumberland County, NC | 52 km northeast | 62 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Marlboro County, SC | 53 km west | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
Robeson County within NC
Robeson County ranks 92 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 153 ft, Robeson County sits 321 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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 Lumberton Municipal Airport, NC, 5 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.