Will Pipes Freeze in Clarke County, AL? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Clarke County
In a normal year Clarke County, AL gets 3 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 14% 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 | 46 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 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 3 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 11/08, last around 03/22. For 20°F: 01/01 to 02/04.
How cold Clarke County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 38°F | 44°F | 51°F | 60°F | 67°F | 70°F | 70°F | 65°F | 53°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Clarke County next to its neighbours
Wilcox County, AL, 59 km northeast, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Clarke County's 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County, AL | - | 46 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Monroe County, AL | 43 km east | 42 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Washington County, AL | 48 km southwest | 50 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Choctaw County, AL | 53 km northwest | 46 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Wilcox County, AL | 59 km northeast | 44 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Marengo County, AL | 63 km north | 47 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Wayne County, MS | 81 km west | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
Clarke County within AL
Clarke County ranks 54 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 309 ft, Clarke County sits 126 ft below 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 Whatley, AL, 11 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.