Will Pipes Freeze in Sussex County, DE? 15 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sussex County
In a normal year Sussex County, DE gets 15 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 32% 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 | 83 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 15 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 15 nights of risk to 2 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 11/06, last around 04/04. For 20°F: 12/21 to 02/25.
How cold Sussex County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 30°F | 36°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 70°F | 68°F | 61°F | 49°F | 40°F | 33°F |
Sussex County next to its neighbours
Caroline County, MD, 48 km northwest, gets 19 nights below 20°F to Sussex County's 15 nights. Wicomico County, MD, 43 km southwest, gets 13 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County, DE | - | 83 nights | 15 nights | 29°F |
| Wicomico County, MD | 43 km southwest | 74 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Caroline County, MD | 48 km northwest | 87 nights | 19 nights | 27°F |
| Kent County, DE | 49 km north | 79 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Worcester County, MD | 50 km south | 85 nights | 17 nights | 30°F |
| Cape May County, NJ | 63 km northeast | 96 nights | 24 nights | 27°F |
| Dorchester County, MD | 67 km southwest | 77 nights | 14 nights | 28°F |
Sussex County within DE
Sussex County ranks 3 of 3 DE counties for nights below 20°F. The most is New Castle County, DE at 22 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. At 42 ft, Sussex County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 42 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 Georgetown Sussex County Airport, DE, 3 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.