Will Pipes Freeze in Dade County, GA? 14 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Dade County
In a normal year Dade County, GA gets 14 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 31% 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 | 79 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 14 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 14 nights of risk to 2 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 11/09, last around 03/25. For 20°F: 01/02 to 02/03.
How cold Dade County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 34°F | 40°F | 47°F | 56°F | 65°F | 68°F | 67°F | 61°F | 49°F | 38°F | 34°F |
Dade County next to its neighbours
Marion County, TN, 32 km north, gets 23 nights below 20°F to Dade County's 14 nights. Hamilton County, TN, 44 km northeast, gets 9 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dade County, GA | - | 79 nights | 14 nights | 31°F |
| Walker County, GA | 22 km southeast | 79 nights | 14 nights | 31°F |
| Marion County, TN | 32 km north | 85 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Catoosa County, GA | 34 km east | 76 nights | 14 nights | 31°F |
| Hamilton County, TN | 44 km northeast | 62 nights | 9 nights | 32°F |
| Jackson County, AL | 44 km west | 76 nights | 14 nights | 30°F |
| Chattooga County, GA | 45 km south | 82 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
Dade County within GA
Dade County ranks 8 of 159 GA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Union County, GA at 28 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Glynn County, GA: under 1 night, winter lows near 46°F. At 760 ft, Dade County sits 339 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 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 Chickamauga (2 mi SW), GA, 18 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.