Will Pipes Freeze in Covington County, AL? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Covington County
In a normal year Covington 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 13% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 38 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 3 nights of risk to none. 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 03/25. For 20°F: 12/29 to 01/31.
How cold Covington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 40°F; the coldest month, January, averages 38°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 41°F | 47°F | 53°F | 61°F | 70°F | 72°F | 72°F | 67°F | 56°F | 45°F | 40°F |
Covington County next to its neighbours
Crenshaw County, AL, 55 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Covington County's 3 nights. Coffee County, AL, 47 km east, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington County, AL | - | 38 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
| Coffee County, AL | 47 km east | 26 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Conecuh County, AL | 55 km west | 39 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Crenshaw County, AL | 55 km north | 45 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Butler County, AL | 61 km north | 43 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Geneva County, AL | 62 km east | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Escambia County, AL | 70 km west | 41 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
Covington County within AL
Covington County ranks 58 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 219 ft, Covington County sits 216 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Andalusia (3 mi W), AL, 10 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.