Will Pipes Freeze in Sussex County, VA? 16 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sussex County
In a normal year Sussex County, VA gets 16 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 33% 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 | 91 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 16 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 16 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 10/29, last around 04/09. For 20°F: 12/06 to 03/01.
How cold Sussex County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 29°F | 35°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 68°F | 66°F | 60°F | 47°F | 37°F | 31°F |
Sussex County next to its neighbours
Dinwiddie County, VA, 37 km northwest, gets 18 nights below 20°F to Sussex County's 16 nights. Southampton County, VA, 27 km southeast, gets 13 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County, VA | - | 91 nights | 16 nights | 27°F |
| Southampton County, VA | 27 km southeast | 82 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Prince George County, VA | 29 km north | 87 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Petersburg city, VA | 33 km north | 83 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Emporia city, VA | 36 km southwest | 83 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 37 km northwest | 94 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Greensville County, VA | 38 km southwest | 83 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
Sussex County within VA
Sussex County ranks 96 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 84 ft, Sussex County sits 363 ft below the state's median county elevation of 448 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 Stony Creek (2 mi N), VA, 14 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.