Will Pipes Freeze in Caldwell County, KY? 21 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Caldwell County
In a normal year Caldwell County, KY gets 21 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 37% 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 | 78 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 21 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 21 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 10/24, last around 04/11. For 20°F: 11/28 to 03/06.
How cold Caldwell County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 30°F | 38°F | 47°F | 56°F | 64°F | 68°F | 66°F | 59°F | 47°F | 38°F | 31°F |
Caldwell County next to its neighbours
Crittenden County, KY, 31 km northwest, gets 28 nights below 20°F to Caldwell County's 21 nights. Lyon County, KY, 23 km southwest, gets 15 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County, KY | - | 78 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Lyon County, KY | 23 km southwest | 59 nights | 15 nights | 30°F |
| Crittenden County, KY | 31 km northwest | 93 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Hopkins County, KY | 34 km northeast | 80 nights | 21 nights | 28°F |
| Trigg County, KY | 38 km south | 74 nights | 19 nights | 28°F |
| Christian County, KY | 44 km southeast | 87 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Livingston County, KY | 44 km west | 82 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
Caldwell County within KY
Caldwell County ranks 113 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 539 ft, Caldwell County sits 258 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Princeton (1 mi SE), KY, 3 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.