Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, MD? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington County, MD gets 27 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 43% 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 | 104 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 6 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 10/28, last around 04/11. For 20°F: 12/08 to 03/06.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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, December: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 32°F | 42°F | 53°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 56°F | 45°F | 35°F | 28°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Berkeley County, WV, 26 km southwest, gets 32 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 27 nights. Frederick County, MD, 39 km east, gets 23 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, MD | - | 104 nights | 27 nights | 23°F |
| Berkeley County, WV | 26 km southwest | 111 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Jefferson County, WV | 33 km south | 114 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Franklin County, PA | 37 km north | 108 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Morgan County, WV | 38 km west | 121 nights | 39 nights | 21°F |
| Frederick County, MD | 39 km east | 90 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
| Fulton County, PA | 43 km northwest | 122 nights | 41 nights | 22°F |
Washington County within MD
Washington County ranks 4 of 24 MD counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Garrett County, MD at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Baltimore city, MD: 10 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 446 ft, Washington County sits 308 ft above the state's median county elevation of 138 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Hagerstown (1 mi E), MD, 11 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.