Will Pipes Freeze in Westmoreland County, VA? 12 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Westmoreland County
In a normal year Westmoreland County, VA gets 12 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 29% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 74 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 12 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 12 nights of risk to 2 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 10/30, last around 04/08. For 20°F: 12/09 to 03/02.
How cold Westmoreland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 30°F | 37°F | 46°F | 56°F | 64°F | 69°F | 67°F | 61°F | 49°F | 40°F | 33°F |
Westmoreland County next to its neighbours
Richmond County, VA, 20 km south, gets 13 nights below 20°F to Westmoreland County's 12 nights. St. Mary's County, MD, 27 km northeast, gets 10 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County, VA | - | 74 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Richmond County, VA | 20 km south | 77 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Essex County, VA | 22 km southwest | 78 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| St. Mary's County, MD | 27 km northeast | 65 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| King George County, VA | 36 km northwest | 91 nights | 19 nights | 26°F |
| Charles County, MD | 44 km northwest | 86 nights | 17 nights | 27°F |
| King and Queen County, VA | 44 km south | 82 nights | 17 nights | 29°F |
Westmoreland County within VA
Westmoreland County ranks 113 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 162 ft, Westmoreland County sits 286 ft below 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.
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 Warsaw (2 mi NW), VA, 14 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.