Will Pipes Freeze in Fayette County, KY? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Fayette County
In a normal year Fayette County, KY gets 27 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 43% 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 | 92 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 7 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 10/28, last around 04/13. For 20°F: 11/30 to 03/09.
How cold Fayette County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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, February, December: 7 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 28°F | 36°F | 45°F | 55°F | 63°F | 66°F | 65°F | 58°F | 47°F | 36°F | 29°F |
Fayette County next to its neighbours
Bourbon County, KY, 28 km northeast, gets 34 nights below 20°F to Fayette County's 27 nights. Jessamine County, KY, 22 km southwest, gets 24 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County, KY | - | 92 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Jessamine County, KY | 22 km southwest | 87 nights | 24 nights | 26°F |
| Woodford County, KY | 25 km west | 91 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Bourbon County, KY | 28 km northeast | 108 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Clark County, KY | 29 km east | 114 nights | 37 nights | 22°F |
| Scott County, KY | 29 km north | 95 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Madison County, KY | 38 km southeast | 101 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
Fayette County within KY
Fayette County ranks 74 of 120 KY counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Shelby County, KY at 55 nights, with a 22°F average winter low. The fewest is Lyon County, KY: 15 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 1,059 ft, Fayette County sits 263 ft above the state's median county elevation of 797 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY, 13 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.