Will Pipes Freeze in Gallatin County, IL? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Gallatin County
In a normal year Gallatin County, IL gets 22 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 38% 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 | 22 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 22 nights of risk to 6 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 10/31, last around 04/05. For 20°F: 12/01 to 03/02.
How cold Gallatin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°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: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 28°F | 36°F | 46°F | 56°F | 64°F | 68°F | 66°F | 58°F | 46°F | 36°F | 29°F |
Gallatin County next to its neighbours
Saline County, IL, 28 km west, gets 25 nights below 20°F to Gallatin County's 22 nights. Union County, KY, 27 km southeast, gets 22 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin County, IL | - | 86 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Union County, KY | 27 km southeast | 82 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Saline County, IL | 28 km west | 95 nights | 25 nights | 24°F |
| Hardin County, IL | 28 km south | 103 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| White County, IL | 36 km north | 103 nights | 32 nights | 21°F |
| Posey County, IN | 43 km northeast | 86 nights | 24 nights | 23°F |
| Hamilton County, IL | 45 km northwest | 110 nights | 37 nights | 22°F |
Gallatin County within IL
Gallatin County ranks 100 of 102 IL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Jo Daviess County, IL at 76 nights, with a 14°F average winter low. The fewest is Alexander County, IL: 21 nights, winter lows near 29°F. At 373 ft, Gallatin County sits 259 ft below the state's median county elevation of 632 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 Jt Myers Locks & Dam, IN, 21 km away (close 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.