Will Pipes Freeze in Wahkiakum County, WA? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wahkiakum County
In a normal year Wahkiakum County, WA gets 3 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 12% 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 | 76 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 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 3 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 10/22, last around 04/27. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/28.
How cold Wahkiakum County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, February, averages 33°F overnight. 9 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, 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 | 47°F | 50°F | 50°F | 46°F | 41°F | 36°F | 34°F |
Wahkiakum County next to its neighbours
Pacific County, WA, 40 km northwest, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Wahkiakum County's 3 nights. Clatsop County, OR, 37 km southwest, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahkiakum County, WA | - | 76 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Clatsop County, OR | 37 km southwest | 30 nights | under 1 night | 38°F |
| Pacific County, WA | 40 km northwest | 79 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Columbia County, OR | 47 km southeast | 85 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 58 km east | 43 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Thurston County, WA | 85 km northeast | 70 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Washington County, OR | 86 km south | 60 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
Wahkiakum County within WA
Wahkiakum County ranks 32 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 256 ft, Wahkiakum County sits 1,364 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Grays Rvr Hatchery, WA, 15 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.