Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, VA? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington County, VA gets 34 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 50% 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 | 115 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 7 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 10/20, last around 04/21. For 20°F: 11/24 to 03/12.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°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: 7 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 26°F | 32°F | 40°F | 50°F | 58°F | 62°F | 61°F | 54°F | 42°F | 32°F | 27°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Russell County, VA, 24 km northwest, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 34 nights. Bristol city, VA, 24 km southwest, gets 30 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, VA | - | 115 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Bristol city, VA | 24 km southwest | 108 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Russell County, VA | 24 km northwest | 109 nights | 36 nights | 24°F |
| Johnson County, TN | 34 km south | 124 nights | 41 nights | 23°F |
| Smyth County, VA | 38 km east | 126 nights | 40 nights | 23°F |
| Sullivan County, TN | 41 km southwest | 93 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Ashe County, NC | 53 km southeast | 124 nights | 44 nights | 22°F |
Washington County within VA
Washington County ranks 30 of 133 VA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Highland County, VA at 62 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Norfolk city, VA: 4 nights, winter lows near 35°F. At 2,306 ft, Washington County sits 1,858 ft above the state's median county elevation of 448 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Abingdon (3 mi S), VA, 9 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.