Will Pipes Freeze in Skamania County, WA? 21 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Skamania County
In a normal year Skamania County, WA gets 21 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 37% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 145 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 21 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 21 nights of risk to 4 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 09/25, last around 05/18. For 20°F: 11/16 to 03/02.
How cold Skamania County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, December, averages 26°F overnight. 10 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, November, December: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 27°F | 30°F | 34°F | 40°F | 45°F | 49°F | 49°F | 44°F | 36°F | 31°F | 26°F |
Skamania County next to its neighbours
Clark County, WA, 50 km southwest, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skamania County, WA | - | 145 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Clark County, WA | 50 km southwest | 71 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 59 km west | 43 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Hood River County, OR | 62 km south | 140 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Multnomah County, OR | 64 km southwest | 31 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Lewis County, WA | 70 km northwest | 74 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Columbia County, OR | 88 km west | 85 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
Skamania County within WA
Skamania County ranks 17 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 3,313 ft, Skamania County sits 1,694 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,620 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 Mount Adams Ranger Station, WA, 32 km away (distant 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.