Will Pipes Freeze in Surry County, NC? 25 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Surry County
In a normal year Surry County, NC gets 25 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 41% 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 | 111 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 25 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 25 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 10/23, last around 04/19. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/07.
How cold Surry County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 27°F | 33°F | 41°F | 51°F | 59°F | 64°F | 62°F | 56°F | 43°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Surry County next to its neighbours
Galax city, VA, 34 km northwest, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Surry County's 25 nights. Yadkin County, NC, 29 km south, gets 25 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surry County, NC | - | 111 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Yadkin County, NC | 29 km south | 105 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Galax city, VA | 34 km northwest | 123 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Carroll County, VA | 35 km north | 117 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Stokes County, NC | 37 km east | 96 nights | 20 nights | 28°F |
| Alleghany County, NC | 41 km west | 109 nights | 35 nights | 22°F |
| Patrick County, VA | 45 km northeast | 97 nights | 18 nights | 25°F |
Surry County within NC
Surry County ranks 14 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 1,096 ft, Surry County sits 623 ft above the state's median county elevation of 473 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 Mount Airy (2 mi W), NC, 10 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.