Will Pipes Freeze in Henry County, AL? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Henry County
In a normal year Henry County, AL gets 2 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 9% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 30 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 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 2 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 11/24, last around 03/05. For 20°F: 01/10 to 01/23.
How cold Henry County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 40°F; the coldest month, January, averages 39°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 41°F | 47°F | 53°F | 63°F | 70°F | 72°F | 71°F | 67°F | 56°F | 46°F | 41°F |
Henry County next to its neighbours
Barbour County, AL, 42 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Henry County's 2 nights. Early County, GA, 38 km southeast, gets 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County, AL | - | 30 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Clay County, GA | 26 km northeast | 32 nights | 1 night | 38°F |
| Dale County, AL | 36 km west | 25 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Early County, GA | 38 km southeast | 29 nights | 1 night | 38°F |
| Houston County, AL | 40 km south | 26 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Barbour County, AL | 42 km north | 44 nights | 5 nights | 37°F |
| Quitman County, GA | 44 km northeast | 36 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Henry County within AL
Henry County ranks 63 of 67 AL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Marion County, AL at 23 nights, with a 31°F average winter low. The fewest is Mobile County, AL: under 1 night, winter lows near 43°F. At 279 ft, Henry County sits 156 ft below the state's median county elevation of 435 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.
A few nights a year catches houses that were never built for it: pipes 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 Headland, AL, 20 km away (close 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.