Will Pipes Freeze in Franklin County, KS? 39 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Franklin County
In a normal year Franklin County, KS gets 39 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 55% 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 | 111 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 39 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 13 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 39 nights of risk to 13 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 10/20, last around 04/18. For 20°F: 11/16 to 03/19.
How cold Franklin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 21°F; the coldest month, January, averages 18°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, March, December: 13 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18°F | 22°F | 32°F | 42°F | 54°F | 63°F | 68°F | 65°F | 56°F | 44°F | 32°F | 23°F |
Franklin County next to its neighbours
Douglas County, KS, 38 km north, gets 43 nights below 20°F to Franklin County's 39 nights. Anderson County, KS, 38 km south, gets 38 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, KS | - | 111 nights | 39 nights | 18°F |
| Douglas County, KS | 38 km north | 111 nights | 43 nights | 19°F |
| Anderson County, KS | 38 km south | 108 nights | 38 nights | 20°F |
| Osage County, KS | 39 km west | 118 nights | 46 nights | 19°F |
| Miami County, KS | 39 km east | 108 nights | 38 nights | 19°F |
| Coffey County, KS | 53 km southwest | 115 nights | 43 nights | 19°F |
| Linn County, KS | 54 km southeast | 120 nights | 47 nights | 19°F |
Franklin County within KS
Franklin County ranks 87 of 105 KS counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Rawlins County, KS at 83 nights, with a 16°F average winter low. The fewest is Cherokee County, KS: 27 nights, winter lows near 26°F. At 946 ft, Franklin County sits 580 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,526 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Ottawa, KS, 6 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.