Will Pipes Freeze in Wake County, NC? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wake County
In a normal year Wake County, NC gets 7 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 22% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 62 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 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 7 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 11/08, last around 03/28. For 20°F: 01/01 to 02/09.
How cold Wake County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 33°F | 40°F | 48°F | 58°F | 66°F | 70°F | 68°F | 62°F | 50°F | 40°F | 34°F |
Wake County next to its neighbours
Durham County, NC, 34 km northwest, gets 11 nights below 20°F to Wake County's 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County, NC | - | 62 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Durham County, NC | 34 km northwest | 81 nights | 11 nights | 29°F |
| Johnston County, NC | 40 km southeast | 75 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| Franklin County, NC | 47 km northeast | 97 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Harnett County, NC | 51 km southwest | 76 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Orange County, NC | 52 km northwest | 74 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Chatham County, NC | 55 km west | 74 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
Wake County within NC
Wake County ranks 67 of 100 NC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Swain County, NC at 49 nights, with a 24°F average winter low. The fewest is Carteret County, NC: 3 nights, winter lows near 39°F. At 329 ft, Wake County sits 144 ft below the state's median county elevation of 473 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Raleigh State Univ, NC, 4 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.