Will Pipes Freeze in Gallatin County, KY? 39 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Gallatin County
In a normal year Gallatin County, KY 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 April, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 114 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 39 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 12 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 3 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 39 nights of risk to 12 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 10/21, last around 04/23. For 20°F: 11/19 to 03/22.
How cold Gallatin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 23°F; the coldest month, January, averages 21°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, March, December: 12 nights a year, and 3 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21°F | 23°F | 31°F | 41°F | 52°F | 60°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 44°F | 33°F | 26°F |
Gallatin County next to its neighbours
Switzerland County, IN, 16 km northwest, gets 34 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin County, KY | - | 114 nights | 39 nights | 21°F |
| Switzerland County, IN | 16 km northwest | 106 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Ohio County, IN | 22 km northwest | 111 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Grant County, KY | 24 km southeast | 94 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Carroll County, KY | 24 km southwest | 98 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Boone County, KY | 25 km northeast | 101 nights | 30 nights | 23°F |
| Owen County, KY | 29 km south | 101 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
Gallatin County within KY
Gallatin County ranks 8 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 760 ft, Gallatin County sits close to 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 Glencoe (6 mi NW), KY, 4 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.