Will Pipes Freeze in Hardin County, IL? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hardin County
In a normal year Hardin County, IL gets 32 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 48% 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 | 103 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 32 nights of risk to 9 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 10/20, last around 04/19. For 20°F: 11/18 to 03/13.
How cold Hardin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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, February, December: 9 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 26°F | 34°F | 44°F | 54°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 56°F | 44°F | 34°F | 27°F |
Hardin County next to its neighbours
Crittenden County, KY, 23 km southeast, gets 28 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County, IL | - | 103 nights | 32 nights | 23°F |
| Crittenden County, KY | 23 km southeast | 93 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Pope County, IL | 27 km southwest | 90 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Gallatin County, IL | 28 km north | 86 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Union County, KY | 32 km northeast | 82 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Livingston County, KY | 35 km south | 82 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Saline County, IL | 36 km northwest | 95 nights | 25 nights | 24°F |
Hardin County within IL
Hardin County ranks 84 of 102 IL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Jo Daviess County, IL at 76 nights, with a 14°F average winter low. The fewest is Alexander County, IL: 21 nights, winter lows near 29°F. At 492 ft, Hardin County sits 139 ft below the state's median county elevation of 632 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Rosiclare (5 mi NW), IL, 14 km away (close 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.