Will Pipes Freeze in Gilmer County, GA? 13 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Gilmer County
In a normal year Gilmer County, GA gets 13 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 29% 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 | 69 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 13 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 13 nights of risk to 2 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 11/05, last around 03/31. For 20°F: 12/22 to 02/13.
How cold Gilmer County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 32°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 33°F | 39°F | 46°F | 55°F | 63°F | 66°F | 66°F | 60°F | 49°F | 39°F | 34°F |
Gilmer County next to its neighbours
Fannin County, GA, 23 km northeast, gets 22 nights below 20°F to Gilmer County's 13 nights. Pickens County, GA, 26 km south, gets 10 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County, GA | - | 69 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
| Fannin County, GA | 23 km northeast | 93 nights | 22 nights | 27°F |
| Pickens County, GA | 26 km south | 61 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Murray County, GA | 28 km northwest | 72 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Dawson County, GA | 38 km southeast | 61 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| Gordon County, GA | 43 km southwest | 69 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Lumpkin County, GA | 44 km east | 91 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
Gilmer County within GA
Gilmer County ranks 12 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 1,572 ft, Gilmer County sits 1,151 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Jasper (1 mi NNW), GA, 24 km away (fair 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.