Will Pipes Freeze in Scott County, VA? 25 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Scott County
In a normal year Scott County, VA gets 25 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 41% 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 | 97 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 25 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 25 nights of risk to 5 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 04/20. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/08.
How cold Scott County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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, December: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 28°F | 34°F | 43°F | 52°F | 60°F | 64°F | 62°F | 56°F | 44°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Scott County next to its neighbours
Norton city, VA, 24 km north, gets 29 nights below 20°F to Scott County's 25 nights. Sullivan County, TN, 36 km southeast, gets 22 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County, VA | - | 97 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Norton city, VA | 24 km north | 98 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Wise County, VA | 29 km north | 101 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Sullivan County, TN | 36 km southeast | 93 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Hawkins County, TN | 41 km southwest | 89 nights | 21 nights | 25°F |
| Bristol city, VA | 42 km east | 108 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Lee County, VA | 46 km west | 114 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
Scott County within VA
Scott County ranks 58 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 1,999 ft, Scott County sits 1,552 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Big Stone Gap, VA, 23 km away (fair match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.