Will Pipes Freeze in Clay County, IL? 35 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Clay County
In a normal year Clay County, IL gets 35 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 51% 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 | 105 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 35 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 11 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 35 nights of risk to 11 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 04/09. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/08.
How cold Clay County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°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: 11 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 25°F | 34°F | 44°F | 55°F | 63°F | 66°F | 64°F | 56°F | 45°F | 35°F | 26°F |
Clay County next to its neighbours
Richland County, IL, 35 km east, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Clay County's 35 nights. Wayne County, IL, 35 km south, gets 32 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County, IL | - | 105 nights | 35 nights | 22°F |
| Richland County, IL | 35 km east | 105 nights | 36 nights | 21°F |
| Effingham County, IL | 35 km north | 112 nights | 40 nights | 20°F |
| Wayne County, IL | 35 km south | 100 nights | 32 nights | 24°F |
| Marion County, IL | 40 km west | 102 nights | 34 nights | 21°F |
| Jasper County, IL | 41 km northeast | 106 nights | 36 nights | 22°F |
| Edwards County, IL | 53 km southeast | 92 nights | 29 nights | 23°F |
Clay County within IL
Clay County ranks 78 of 102 IL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Jo Daviess County, IL at 76 nights, with a 14°F average winter low. The fewest is Alexander County, IL: 21 nights, winter lows near 29°F. At 464 ft, Clay County sits 168 ft below the state's median county elevation of 632 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 Flora, IL, 8 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.