Will Pipes Freeze in Holmes County, FL? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Holmes County
In a normal year Holmes County, FL 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 11% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. 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 | 35 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 2 nights of risk to none. 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 11/20, last around 03/10. For 20°F: 01/09 to 01/23.
How cold Holmes County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 40°F; the coldest month, January, averages 38°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 41°F | 47°F | 53°F | 61°F | 69°F | 71°F | 71°F | 66°F | 55°F | 45°F | 41°F |
Holmes County next to its neighbours
Geneva County, AL, 26 km north, gets 3 nights below 20°F to Holmes County's 2 nights. Washington County, FL, 33 km southeast, gets 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes County, FL | - | 35 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Geneva County, AL | 26 km north | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Washington County, FL | 33 km southeast | 26 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
| Walton County, FL | 46 km southwest | 25 nights | 1 night | 40°F |
| Jackson County, FL | 59 km east | 23 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Houston County, AL | 59 km northeast | 26 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Coffee County, AL | 62 km north | 26 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
Holmes County within FL
Holmes County ranks 1 of 67 FL counties for nights below 20°F. The fewest is Broward County, FL: none, winter lows near 60°F. At 78 ft, Holmes County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 54 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 New Hope, FL, 12 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.