Will Pipes Freeze in DeKalb County, GA? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in DeKalb County
In a normal year DeKalb County, GA gets 4 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 16% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 47 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 11/09, last around 03/25. For 20°F: 12/30 to 02/03.
How cold DeKalb County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 70°F | 64°F | 52°F | 41°F | 36°F |
DeKalb County next to its neighbours
Rockdale County, GA, 23 km southeast, gets 7 nights below 20°F to DeKalb County's 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County, GA | - | 47 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Fulton County, GA | 22 km west | 53 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Rockdale County, GA | 23 km southeast | 62 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 28 km northeast | 57 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Clayton County, GA | 30 km southwest | 46 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Henry County, GA | 36 km south | 62 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Cobb County, GA | 37 km northwest | 64 nights | 8 nights | 32°F |
DeKalb County within GA
DeKalb County ranks 76 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 864 ft, DeKalb County sits 444 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 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 Atlanta Peachtree Airport, GA, 14 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.