Will Pipes Freeze in Ballard County, KY? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Ballard County
In a normal year Ballard 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 | 83 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 | under 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 11/05, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/10 to 02/28.
How cold Ballard County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°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 under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 30°F | 37°F | 47°F | 57°F | 65°F | 69°F | 67°F | 59°F | 48°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Ballard County next to its neighbours
Pulaski County, IL, 21 km northwest, gets 23 nights below 20°F to Ballard County's 22 nights. Alexander County, IL, 33 km northwest, gets 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County, KY | - | 83 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Pulaski County, IL | 21 km northwest | 81 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
| Carlisle County, KY | 22 km south | 88 nights | 24 nights | 27°F |
| McCracken County, KY | 26 km east | 83 nights | 22 nights | 27°F |
| Massac County, IL | 33 km northeast | 83 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Alexander County, IL | 33 km northwest | 84 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Mississippi County, MO | 36 km southwest | 81 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
Ballard County within KY
Ballard County ranks 104 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 410 ft, Ballard County sits 386 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.
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 Grand Chain Dam 53, IL, 17 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.