Will Pipes Freeze in Skagit County, WA? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Skagit County
In a normal year Skagit County, WA gets 7 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 22% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 82 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 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 7 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 10/29, last around 04/24. For 20°F: 12/19 to 02/06.
How cold Skagit County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°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: under 1 night a year, and none below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 31°F | 34°F | 38°F | 44°F | 49°F | 52°F | 53°F | 48°F | 42°F | 36°F | 31°F |
Skagit County next to its neighbours
Chelan County, WA, 113 km southeast, gets 60 nights below 20°F to Skagit County's 7 nights. Whatcom County, WA, 39 km north, gets 6 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skagit County, WA | - | 82 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Whatcom County, WA | 39 km north | 73 nights | 6 nights | 31°F |
| Snohomish County, WA | 49 km south | 82 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Island County, WA | 73 km southwest | 28 nights | 1 night | 37°F |
| San Juan County, WA | 95 km west | 39 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| King County, WA | 112 km south | 78 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Chelan County, WA | 113 km southeast | 185 nights | 60 nights | 18°F |
Skagit County within WA
Skagit County ranks 22 of 39 WA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Ferry County, WA at 62 nights, with a 18°F average winter low. The fewest is Island County, WA: 1 night, winter lows near 37°F. At 1,620 ft, Skagit County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 1,620 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Upper Baker Dam, WA, 20 km away (fair 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.