Will Pipes Freeze in Hancock County, TN? 30 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hancock County
In a normal year Hancock County, TN gets 30 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 46% 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 | 104 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 30 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 30 nights of risk to 6 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 10/24, last around 04/14. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/10.
How cold Hancock County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°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, December: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 51°F | 60°F | 64°F | 63°F | 56°F | 43°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Hancock County next to its neighbours
Lee County, VA, 22 km northeast, gets 34 nights below 20°F to Hancock County's 30 nights. Hawkins County, TN, 28 km east, gets 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County, TN | - | 104 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Lee County, VA | 22 km northeast | 114 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Hawkins County, TN | 28 km east | 89 nights | 21 nights | 25°F |
| Hamblen County, TN | 34 km south | 82 nights | 18 nights | 27°F |
| Grainger County, TN | 37 km southwest | 87 nights | 23 nights | 27°F |
| Harlan County, KY | 38 km north | 109 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
| Claiborne County, TN | 39 km west | 107 nights | 32 nights | 24°F |
Hancock County within TN
Hancock County ranks 7 of 95 TN counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Johnson County, TN at 41 nights, with a 25°F average winter low. The fewest is Hamilton County, TN: 9 nights, winter lows near 34°F. At 1,570 ft, Hancock County sits 703 ft above the state's median county elevation of 867 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Rogersville (1 mi NE), TN, 25 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.