Will Pipes Freeze in Greene County, AL? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Greene County
In a normal year Greene County, AL gets 5 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 17% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 51 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 5 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 11/08, last around 03/19. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/31.
How cold Greene County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 44°F | 51°F | 60°F | 68°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 52°F | 41°F | 36°F |
Greene County next to its neighbours
Sumter County, AL, 35 km southwest, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Greene County's 5 nights. Hale County, AL, 33 km east, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County, AL | - | 51 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Hale County, AL | 33 km east | 43 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Sumter County, AL | 35 km southwest | 61 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Pickens County, AL | 52 km north | 58 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Kemper County, MS | 63 km west | 47 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Noxubee County, MS | 63 km northwest | 58 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 64 km northeast | 45 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
Greene County within AL
Greene County ranks 39 of 67 AL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Marion County, AL at 23 nights, with a 31°F average winter low. The fewest is Mobile County, AL: under 1 night, winter lows near 43°F. At 145 ft, Greene County sits 290 ft below the state's median county elevation of 435 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Gainesville Lock, AL, 16 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.