Will Pipes Freeze in Stafford County, VA? 19 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Stafford County
In a normal year Stafford County, VA gets 19 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 35% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 91 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 19 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 19 nights of risk to 3 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 11/01, last around 04/06. For 20°F: 12/07 to 03/02.
How cold Stafford County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 28°F | 35°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 68°F | 67°F | 60°F | 47°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Stafford County next to its neighbours
Fredericksburg city, VA, 14 km south, gets 22 nights below 20°F to Stafford County's 19 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford County, VA | - | 91 nights | 19 nights | 27°F |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 14 km south | 100 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| King George County, VA | 30 km southeast | 91 nights | 19 nights | 26°F |
| Prince William County, VA | 31 km north | 95 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 32 km southwest | 100 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
| Manassas city, VA | 36 km north | 94 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Manassas Park city, VA | 39 km north | 95 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
Stafford County within VA
Stafford County ranks 83 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 236 ft, Stafford County sits 212 ft below 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 Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, 15 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.