Will Pipes Freeze in Thurston County, WA? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Thurston County
In a normal year Thurston County, WA gets 6 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 20% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 70 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 6 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 10/14, last around 04/29. For 20°F: 12/06 to 02/12.
How cold Thurston County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, February, averages 33°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 33°F | 35°F | 38°F | 43°F | 48°F | 51°F | 51°F | 47°F | 41°F | 36°F | 33°F |
Thurston County next to its neighbours
Lewis County, WA, 52 km southeast, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston County, WA | - | 70 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Lewis County, WA | 52 km southeast | 74 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Pierce County, WA | 53 km east | 70 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Mason County, WA | 53 km northwest | 61 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | 78 km west | 57 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Kitsap County, WA | 79 km north | 46 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 83 km south | 43 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
Thurston County within WA
Thurston County ranks 23 of 39 WA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Ferry County, WA at 62 nights, with a 18°F average winter low. The fewest is Island County, WA: 1 night, winter lows near 37°F. At 355 ft, Thurston County sits 1,265 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,620 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Olympia Airport, WA, 7 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.