Will Pipes Freeze in Sullivan County, TN? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sullivan County
In a normal year Sullivan County, TN gets 22 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 38% 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 | 93 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 22 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 22 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 10/24, last around 04/16. For 20°F: 11/27 to 03/05.
How cold Sullivan County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 29°F | 35°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 45°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Sullivan County next to its neighbours
Bristol city, VA, 18 km northeast, gets 30 nights below 20°F to Sullivan County's 22 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County, TN | - | 93 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Bristol city, VA | 18 km northeast | 108 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Washington County, TN | 29 km southwest | 96 nights | 23 nights | 25°F |
| Carter County, TN | 29 km southeast | 118 nights | 39 nights | 23°F |
| Scott County, VA | 36 km northwest | 97 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Johnson County, TN | 40 km east | 124 nights | 41 nights | 23°F |
| Washington County, VA | 41 km northeast | 115 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
Sullivan County within TN
Sullivan County ranks 41 of 95 TN counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Johnson County, TN at 41 nights, with a 25°F average winter low. The fewest is Hamilton County, TN: 9 nights, winter lows near 34°F. At 1,625 ft, Sullivan County sits 758 ft above the state's median county elevation of 867 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Bristol Tri City Airport, TN, 10 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.