Will Pipes Freeze in Fulton County, KY? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Fulton County
In a normal year Fulton County, KY gets 20 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 37% 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 | 86 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 20 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 20 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 11/01, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/07 to 02/26.
How cold Fulton 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, December: 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 | 38°F | 47°F | 57°F | 66°F | 69°F | 66°F | 59°F | 47°F | 38°F | 30°F |
Fulton County next to its neighbours
Hickman County, KY, 24 km northeast, gets 23 nights below 20°F to Fulton County's 20 nights. Lake County, TN, 36 km southwest, gets 17 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County, KY | - | 86 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Obion County, TN | 21 km south | 86 nights | 21 nights | 27°F |
| Hickman County, KY | 24 km northeast | 86 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Mississippi County, MO | 32 km north | 81 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Lake County, TN | 36 km southwest | 77 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Carlisle County, KY | 39 km northeast | 88 nights | 24 nights | 27°F |
| New Madrid County, MO | 42 km west | 72 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
Fulton County within KY
Fulton County ranks 114 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 356 ft, Fulton County sits 441 ft below 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.
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 Samburg Wr, TN, 15 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.