Will Pipes Freeze in Rockbridge County, VA? 33 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Rockbridge County
In a normal year Rockbridge County, VA gets 33 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 49% 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 | 118 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 33 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 33 nights of risk to 6 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 10/23, last around 04/23. For 20°F: 11/21 to 03/15.
How cold Rockbridge County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 25°F | 31°F | 41°F | 51°F | 60°F | 64°F | 63°F | 56°F | 43°F | 32°F | 27°F |
Rockbridge County next to its neighbours
Lexington city, VA, 4 km south, gets 34 nights below 20°F to Rockbridge County's 33 nights. Buena Vista city, VA, 12 km southeast, gets 31 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockbridge County, VA | - | 118 nights | 33 nights | 24°F |
| Lexington city, VA | 4 km south | 119 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Buena Vista city, VA | 12 km southeast | 114 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Amherst County, VA | 33 km southeast | 114 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Bath County, VA | 38 km northwest | 139 nights | 52 nights | 20°F |
| Botetourt County, VA | 41 km southwest | 102 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Covington city, VA | 47 km west | 120 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
Rockbridge County within VA
Rockbridge County ranks 32 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 948 ft, Rockbridge County sits 501 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 Lexington, VA, 4 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.