Will Pipes Freeze in Storey County, NV? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Storey County
In a normal year Storey County, NV gets 27 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 43% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to April, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 121 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 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 27 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 10/17, last around 05/12. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/09.
How cold Storey County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, December, averages 26°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, December: 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 | 33°F | 36°F | 44°F | 52°F | 61°F | 59°F | 52°F | 41°F | 32°F | 26°F |
Storey County next to its neighbours
Carson City, NV, 37 km southwest, gets 45 nights below 20°F to Storey County's 27 nights. Nevada County, CA, 108 km west, gets 14 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storey County, NV | - | 121 nights | 27 nights | 27°F |
| Carson City, NV | 37 km southwest | 149 nights | 45 nights | 24°F |
| Lyon County, NV | 54 km southeast | 145 nights | 50 nights | 21°F |
| Douglas County, NV | 60 km south | 176 nights | 50 nights | 22°F |
| Sierra County, CA | 87 km west | 220 nights | 72 nights | 20°F |
| Alpine County, CA | 94 km south | 189 nights | 58 nights | 22°F |
| Nevada County, CA | 108 km west | 122 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
Storey County within NV
Storey County ranks 16 of 17 NV counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Elko County, NV at 108 nights, with a 13°F average winter low. The fewest is Clark County, NV: none, winter lows near 39°F. At 5,755 ft, Storey County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 5,741 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 Virginia City, NV, 18 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.