Will Pipes Freeze in Boone County, KY? 30 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Boone County
In a normal year Boone County, KY gets 30 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 46% 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 | 30 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 30 nights of risk to 9 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 04/18. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/14.
How cold Boone County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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, March, December: 9 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 26°F | 33°F | 43°F | 53°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 35°F | 28°F |
Boone County next to its neighbours
Kenton County, KY, 18 km east, gets 31 nights below 20°F to Boone County's 30 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County, KY | - | 101 nights | 30 nights | 23°F |
| Kenton County, KY | 18 km east | 102 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Ohio County, IN | 20 km west | 111 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Gallatin County, KY | 25 km southwest | 114 nights | 39 nights | 21°F |
| Dearborn County, IN | 29 km northwest | 123 nights | 43 nights | 20°F |
| Switzerland County, IN | 29 km southwest | 106 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Campbell County, KY | 31 km east | 106 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
Boone County within KY
Boone County ranks 45 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 714 ft, Boone County sits 83 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 Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport, KY, 11 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.