Will Pipes Freeze in Calhoun County, AL? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Calhoun County
In a normal year Calhoun County, AL gets 7 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 22% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 58 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 7 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 11/09, last around 03/23. For 20°F: 12/26 to 02/03.
How cold Calhoun County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 42°F | 49°F | 58°F | 66°F | 70°F | 69°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 35°F |
Calhoun County next to its neighbours
Cleburne County, AL, 31 km east, gets 11 nights below 20°F to Calhoun County's 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County, AL | - | 58 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Cleburne County, AL | 31 km east | 71 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Etowah County, AL | 36 km northwest | 56 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Cherokee County, AL | 37 km northeast | 75 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| St. Clair County, AL | 45 km west | 65 nights | 10 nights | 33°F |
| Talladega County, AL | 55 km southwest | 70 nights | 11 nights | 31°F |
| Clay County, AL | 56 km south | 65 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
Calhoun County within AL
Calhoun County ranks 27 of 67 AL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Marion County, AL at 23 nights, with a 31°F average winter low. The fewest is Mobile County, AL: under 1 night, winter lows near 43°F. At 720 ft, Calhoun County sits 285 ft above the state's median county elevation of 435 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Anniston Metro Airport, AL, 21 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.