Will Pipes Freeze in Taylor County, WV? 40 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Taylor County
In a normal year Taylor County, WV gets 40 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 55% 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 | 123 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 40 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 12 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 3 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 40 nights of risk to 12 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 10/22, last around 04/26. For 20°F: 11/23 to 03/19.
How cold Taylor County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 24°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°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, March, December: 12 nights a year, and 3 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 23°F | 30°F | 39°F | 49°F | 57°F | 62°F | 60°F | 54°F | 42°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Taylor County next to its neighbours
Barbour County, WV, 22 km south, gets 53 nights below 20°F to Taylor County's 40 nights. Harrison County, WV, 30 km west, gets 35 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor County, WV | - | 123 nights | 40 nights | 22°F |
| Barbour County, WV | 22 km south | 141 nights | 53 nights | 20°F |
| Marion County, WV | 26 km northwest | 122 nights | 41 nights | 22°F |
| Harrison County, WV | 30 km west | 115 nights | 35 nights | 23°F |
| Monongalia County, WV | 34 km north | 106 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Preston County, WV | 36 km northeast | 137 nights | 49 nights | 19°F |
| Tucker County, WV | 49 km southeast | 149 nights | 70 nights | 17°F |
Taylor County within WV
Taylor County ranks 28 of 55 WV counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Tucker County, WV at 70 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Mingo County, WV: 25 nights, winter lows near 28°F. At 1,289 ft, Taylor County sits 77 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,213 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 Tygart Dam, WV, 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.