Will Pipes Freeze in Hempstead County, AR? 8 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hempstead County
In a normal year Hempstead County, AR gets 8 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 23% 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 | 64 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 8 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 8 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 11/06, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/20 to 02/06.
How cold Hempstead County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 34°F | 42°F | 49°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 70°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 34°F |
Hempstead County next to its neighbours
Pike County, AR, 47 km north, gets 13 nights below 20°F to Hempstead County's 8 nights. Miller County, AR, 53 km southwest, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead County, AR | - | 64 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Nevada County, AR | 34 km east | 62 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Pike County, AR | 47 km north | 75 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Howard County, AR | 49 km northwest | 68 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Miller County, AR | 53 km southwest | 42 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Little River County, AR | 53 km west | 52 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Lafayette County, AR | 55 km south | 55 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
Hempstead County within AR
Hempstead County ranks 49 of 75 AR counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Benton County, AR at 29 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Miller County, AR: 3 nights, winter lows near 37°F. At 362 ft, Hempstead County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 347 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 Hope (3 mi NE), AR, 10 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.