Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, NC? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington County, NC gets 5 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 17% 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 | 51 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 5 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 11/07, last around 03/31. For 20°F: 12/31 to 02/12.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 35°F | 41°F | 50°F | 58°F | 67°F | 71°F | 69°F | 64°F | 53°F | 43°F | 37°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Tyrrell County, NC, 37 km east, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 5 nights. Beaufort County, NC, 47 km southwest, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, NC | - | 51 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Chowan County, NC | 32 km north | 48 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Tyrrell County, NC | 37 km east | 61 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Perquimans County, NC | 40 km north | 52 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Bertie County, NC | 42 km northwest | 58 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Beaufort County, NC | 47 km southwest | 36 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Martin County, NC | 49 km west | 54 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
Washington County within NC
Washington County ranks 90 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 10 ft, Washington County sits 463 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.
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 Plymouth (5 mi E), NC, 8 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.