Will Pipes Freeze in Floyd County, IN? 19 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Floyd County
In a normal year Floyd County, IN gets 19 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 36% 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 | 77 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 19 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 19 nights of risk to 4 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 03/31. For 20°F: 12/14 to 02/26.
How cold Floyd County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 30°F | 37°F | 48°F | 58°F | 66°F | 70°F | 69°F | 61°F | 49°F | 38°F | 31°F |
Floyd County next to its neighbours
Harrison County, IN, 22 km southwest, gets 27 nights below 20°F to Floyd County's 19 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd County, IN | - | 77 nights | 19 nights | 27°F |
| Harrison County, IN | 22 km southwest | 92 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Clark County, IN | 25 km northeast | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Jefferson County, KY | 26 km southeast | 78 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Washington County, IN | 36 km northwest | 104 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Oldham County, KY | 41 km east | 106 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Scott County, IN | 43 km north | 113 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
Floyd County within IN
Floyd County ranks 92 of 92 IN counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Steuben County, IN at 63 nights, with a 19°F average winter low. At 838 ft, Floyd County sits 78 ft above the state's median county elevation of 759 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Louisville McAlpine, KY, 11 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.