Will Pipes Freeze in Houston County, AL? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Houston County
In a normal year Houston 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 | 26 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 Houston County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 41°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 | 43°F | 48°F | 55°F | 64°F | 70°F | 72°F | 72°F | 67°F | 57°F | 47°F | 42°F |
Houston County next to its neighbours
Geneva County, AL, 50 km west, gets 3 nights below 20°F to Houston County's 2 nights. Early County, GA, 41 km northeast, gets 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County, AL | - | 26 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Henry County, AL | 40 km north | 30 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Early County, GA | 41 km northeast | 29 nights | 1 night | 38°F |
| Jackson County, FL | 42 km south | 23 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Dale County, AL | 42 km northwest | 25 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Seminole County, GA | 48 km southeast | 23 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Geneva County, AL | 50 km west | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Houston County within AL
Houston County ranks 65 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 225 ft, Houston County sits 210 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, 23 km away (fair 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.