Will Pipes Freeze in Franklin County, GA? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Franklin County
In a normal year Franklin County, GA gets 6 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 20% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 56 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/15, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 01/03 to 02/01.
How cold Franklin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 34°F | 41°F | 48°F | 57°F | 65°F | 69°F | 68°F | 62°F | 51°F | 40°F | 35°F |
Franklin County next to its neighbours
Banks County, GA, 25 km west, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Franklin County's 6 nights. Stephens County, GA, 21 km north, gets 6 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, GA | - | 56 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Stephens County, GA | 21 km north | 53 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Hart County, GA | 24 km east | 49 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Banks County, GA | 25 km west | 67 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Madison County, GA | 28 km south | 59 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Habersham County, GA | 40 km northwest | 90 nights | 15 nights | 29°F |
| Jackson County, GA | 41 km southwest | 58 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
Franklin County within GA
Franklin County ranks 47 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 768 ft, Franklin County sits 348 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Hartwell, GA, 27 km away (fair match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.