Will Pipes Freeze in Wise County, VA? 31 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wise County
In a normal year Wise County, VA gets 31 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 47% 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 | 101 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 31 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 31 nights of risk to 8 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 10/18, last around 04/25. For 20°F: 11/18 to 03/20.
How cold Wise 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, March, December: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 51°F | 58°F | 62°F | 60°F | 54°F | 44°F | 34°F | 28°F |
Wise County next to its neighbours
Dickenson County, VA, 30 km northeast, gets 39 nights below 20°F to Wise County's 31 nights. Norton city, VA, 5 km south, gets 29 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise County, VA | - | 101 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Norton city, VA | 5 km south | 98 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Letcher County, KY | 27 km northwest | 110 nights | 25 nights | 24°F |
| Scott County, VA | 29 km south | 97 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Dickenson County, VA | 30 km northeast | 123 nights | 39 nights | 23°F |
| Russell County, VA | 47 km east | 109 nights | 36 nights | 24°F |
| Knott County, KY | 51 km northwest | 99 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
Wise County within VA
Wise County ranks 41 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 2,186 ft, Wise County sits 1,739 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Wise (1 mi SE), VA, 6 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.