Will Pipes Freeze in Chugach Census Area, AK? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Chugach Census Area
In a normal year Chugach Census Area, AK gets 32 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 48% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs October to April, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 129 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 32 nights of risk to 8 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 10/13, last around 04/29. For 20°F: 11/20 to 03/25.
How cold Chugach Census Area nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°F overnight. 9 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, March, November, December: 8 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 26°F | 26°F | 33°F | 40°F | 47°F | 51°F | 50°F | 44°F | 37°F | 30°F | 27°F |
Chugach Census Area next to its neighbours
Anchorage Municipality, AK, 184 km northwest, gets 104 nights below 20°F to Chugach Census Area's 32 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chugach Census Area, AK | - | 129 nights | 32 nights | 25°F |
| Anchorage Municipality, AK | 184 km northwest | 203 nights | 104 nights | 12°F |
| Copper River Census Area, AK | 211 km northeast | 251 nights | 180 nights | -11°F |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 264 km northwest | 221 nights | 133 nights | 5°F |
| Yakutat City and Borough, AK | 323 km east | 164 nights | 50 nights | 21°F |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 336 km west | 194 nights | 102 nights | 10°F |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK | 406 km north | 261 nights | 192 nights | -22°F |
Chugach Census Area within AK
Chugach Census Area ranks 21 of 26 AK counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK at 192 nights, with a -19°F average winter low. The fewest is Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK: 10 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 456 ft, Chugach Census Area sits 366 ft below the state's median county elevation of 822 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 Cordova Wastewater Plant, AK, 24 km away (fair 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.