Will Pipes Freeze in Dougherty County, GA? 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Dougherty County
In a normal year Dougherty County, GA gets 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 8% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. 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 | 28 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 1 night |
| 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 1 night 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 11/21, last around 03/08. For 20°F: 01/09 to 01/22.
How cold Dougherty County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 41°F; the coldest month, January, averages 39°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 42°F | 48°F | 54°F | 63°F | 71°F | 73°F | 73°F | 68°F | 57°F | 46°F | 41°F |
Dougherty County next to its neighbours
Lee County, GA, 32 km north, gets 2 nights below 20°F to Dougherty County's 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dougherty County, GA | - | 28 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
| Lee County, GA | 32 km north | 37 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Baker County, GA | 33 km southwest | 38 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Mitchell County, GA | 34 km south | 33 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Worth County, GA | 34 km east | 34 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Terrell County, GA | 35 km northwest | 40 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Calhoun County, GA | 40 km west | 36 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
Dougherty County within GA
Dougherty County ranks 135 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 189 ft, Dougherty County sits 232 ft below the state's median county elevation of 420 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
A few nights a year catches houses that were never built for it: pipes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Albany SW Ga Regional Airport, GA, 1 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.