Will Pipes Freeze in Hancock County, GA? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hancock County
In a normal year Hancock County, GA 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 18% 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 | 55 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 11/09, last around 03/25. For 20°F: 01/02 to 01/31.
How cold Hancock County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 36°F | 42°F | 49°F | 58°F | 66°F | 70°F | 69°F | 64°F | 52°F | 41°F | 36°F |
Hancock County next to its neighbours
Baldwin County, GA, 33 km southwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Hancock County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County, GA | - | 55 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Baldwin County, GA | 33 km southwest | 60 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Warren County, GA | 34 km northeast | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Taliaferro County, GA | 34 km north | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Putnam County, GA | 35 km west | 64 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Glascock County, GA | 37 km east | 48 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Greene County, GA | 38 km northwest | 58 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
Hancock County within GA
Hancock County ranks 57 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 503 ft, Hancock County sits 82 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Milledgeville, GA, 31 km away (fair match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.