Will Pipes Freeze in Gulf County, FL? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Gulf County
In a normal year Gulf County, FL gets under 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 4% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 15 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | under 1 night |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 12/18, last around 02/15. For 20°F: 01/12 to 01/15.
How cold Gulf County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 45°F; the coldest month, January, averages 43°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43°F | 46°F | 51°F | 57°F | 65°F | 72°F | 74°F | 74°F | 70°F | 61°F | 50°F | 45°F |
Gulf County next to its neighbours
Liberty County, FL, 59 km northeast, gets 1 night below 20°F to Gulf County's under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf County, FL | - | 15 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Bay County, FL | 42 km northwest | 14 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Franklin County, FL | 48 km southeast | 14 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Liberty County, FL | 59 km northeast | 28 nights | 1 night | 40°F |
| Calhoun County, FL | 59 km north | 22 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Washington County, FL | 90 km northwest | 26 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
| Wakulla County, FL | 92 km east | 33 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
Gulf County within FL
Gulf County ranks 25 of 67 FL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Holmes County, FL at 2 nights, with a 40°F average winter low. The fewest is Broward County, FL: none, winter lows near 60°F. At 13 ft, Gulf County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 54 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Apalachicola Airport, FL, 27 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.