Will Pipes Freeze in Dooly County, GA? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Dooly County
In a normal year Dooly County, GA gets 2 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 11% 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 | 34 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 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 2 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 11/14, last around 03/13. For 20°F: 01/04 to 01/25.
How cold Dooly County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 45°F | 53°F | 61°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 66°F | 54°F | 44°F | 39°F |
Dooly County next to its neighbours
Macon County, GA, 33 km northwest, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Dooly County's 2 nights. Wilcox County, GA, 41 km southeast, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dooly County, GA | - | 34 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Crisp County, GA | 26 km south | 32 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Pulaski County, GA | 32 km east | 40 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Macon County, GA | 33 km northwest | 40 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Houston County, GA | 37 km north | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Sumter County, GA | 39 km west | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Wilcox County, GA | 41 km southeast | 29 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
Dooly County within GA
Dooly County ranks 111 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 360 ft, Dooly County sits 60 ft below 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 Cordele, GA, 19 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.