Will Pipes Freeze in Suffolk city, VA? 9 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Suffolk city
In a normal year Suffolk city, VA gets 9 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 25% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. 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 | 64 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 9 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 9 nights of risk to 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 11/15, last around 03/27. For 20°F: 01/03 to 02/11.
How cold Suffolk city nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 32°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°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: 1 night a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 32°F | 38°F | 47°F | 56°F | 65°F | 69°F | 68°F | 62°F | 51°F | 40°F | 34°F |
Suffolk city next to its neighbours
Isle of Wight County, VA, 24 km north, gets 10 nights below 20°F to Suffolk city's 9 nights. Portsmouth city, VA, 31 km northeast, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk city, VA | - | 64 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Isle of Wight County, VA | 24 km north | 71 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| Franklin city, VA | 27 km west | 79 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
| Gates County, NC | 29 km south | 85 nights | 19 nights | 28°F |
| Chesapeake city, VA | 30 km east | 74 nights | 16 nights | 29°F |
| Portsmouth city, VA | 31 km northeast | 42 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Southampton County, VA | 42 km west | 82 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
Suffolk city within VA
Suffolk city ranks 123 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 67 ft, Suffolk city sits 380 ft below the state's median county elevation of 448 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA, 5 km away (close 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.