Will Pipes Freeze in Highlands County, FL? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Highlands County
In a normal year Highlands County, FL gets under 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 4% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 7 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | under 1 night |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 12/22, last around 02/26. For 20°F: 01/11 to 01/15.
How cold Highlands County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 51°F; the coldest month, January, averages 49°F overnight. 4 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49°F | 51°F | 53°F | 58°F | 63°F | 69°F | 71°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 57°F | 52°F |
Highlands County next to its neighbours
The six closest counties all sit within a night of Highlands County.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands County, FL | - | 7 nights | under 1 night | 49°F |
| Okeechobee County, FL | 45 km east | 2 nights | none | 51°F |
| Glades County, FL | 45 km south | 2 nights | none | 50°F |
| DeSoto County, FL | 49 km west | 5 nights | none | 48°F |
| Hardee County, FL | 50 km west | 5 nights | none | 48°F |
| Polk County, FL | 76 km northwest | 2 nights | none | 51°F |
| Charlotte County, FL | 81 km southwest | 1 night | none | 52°F |
Highlands County within FL
Highlands County ranks 30 of 67 FL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Holmes County, FL at 2 nights, with a 40°F average winter low. The fewest is Broward County, FL: none, winter lows near 60°F. At 84 ft, Highlands County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 54 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.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes 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 Archbold Bio Station, FL, 18 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.