Will Pipes Freeze in Sampson County, NC? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sampson County
In a normal year Sampson County, NC gets 6 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 20% 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 | 59 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/07, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/30 to 02/03.
How cold Sampson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 34°F | 40°F | 49°F | 58°F | 66°F | 70°F | 68°F | 63°F | 50°F | 40°F | 35°F |
Sampson County next to its neighbours
Duplin County, NC, 40 km east, gets 9 nights below 20°F to Sampson County's 6 nights. Wayne County, NC, 52 km northeast, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampson County, NC | - | 59 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Duplin County, NC | 40 km east | 65 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Cumberland County, NC | 42 km west | 62 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Bladen County, NC | 47 km south | 62 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Wayne County, NC | 52 km northeast | 47 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Johnston County, NC | 58 km north | 75 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| Harnett County, NC | 62 km northwest | 76 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
Sampson County within NC
Sampson County ranks 79 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 105 ft, Sampson County sits 368 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Clinton (2 mi NE), NC, 10 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.