Will Pipes Freeze in Allen County, KY? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Allen County
In a normal year Allen County, KY gets 22 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 38% 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 | 79 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 22 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 22 nights of risk to 5 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 10/25, last around 04/15. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/08.
How cold Allen County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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, December: 5 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 29°F | 37°F | 45°F | 54°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 58°F | 47°F | 36°F | 30°F |
Allen County next to its neighbours
Sumner County, TN, 39 km southwest, gets 23 nights below 20°F to Allen County's 22 nights. Macon County, TN, 29 km southeast, gets 19 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County, KY | - | 79 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Macon County, TN | 29 km southeast | 75 nights | 19 nights | 27°F |
| Barren County, KY | 33 km northeast | 81 nights | 21 nights | 29°F |
| Warren County, KY | 34 km northwest | 82 nights | 19 nights | 28°F |
| Simpson County, KY | 35 km west | 83 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Sumner County, TN | 39 km southwest | 86 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Trousdale County, TN | 40 km south | 82 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
Allen County within KY
Allen County ranks 105 of 120 KY counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Shelby County, KY at 55 nights, with a 22°F average winter low. The fewest is Lyon County, KY: 15 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 695 ft, Allen County sits 101 ft below the state's median county elevation of 797 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 Scottsville, KY, 3 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.