Will Pipes Freeze in Smyth County, VA? 40 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Smyth County
In a normal year Smyth County, VA gets 40 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 56% 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 | 126 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 40 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 40 nights of risk to 8 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 10/20, last around 04/23. For 20°F: 11/19 to 03/13.
How cold Smyth County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 31°F | 39°F | 49°F | 57°F | 61°F | 60°F | 53°F | 41°F | 31°F | 26°F |
Smyth County next to its neighbours
Tazewell County, VA, 32 km north, gets 43 nights below 20°F to Smyth County's 40 nights. Grayson County, VA, 36 km southeast, gets 34 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smyth County, VA | - | 126 nights | 40 nights | 23°F |
| Tazewell County, VA | 32 km north | 129 nights | 43 nights | 22°F |
| Grayson County, VA | 36 km southeast | 94 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
| Washington County, VA | 38 km west | 115 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Wythe County, VA | 41 km east | 130 nights | 41 nights | 24°F |
| Ashe County, NC | 44 km south | 124 nights | 44 nights | 22°F |
| Bland County, VA | 49 km northeast | 122 nights | 43 nights | 22°F |
Smyth County within VA
Smyth County ranks 8 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 2,414 ft, Smyth County sits 1,967 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 Saltville (1 mi N), VA, 21 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.