Will Pipes Freeze in Jefferson County, AR? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Jefferson County
In a normal year Jefferson County, AR gets 4 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 16% 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 | 47 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 11/16, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 01/01 to 02/01.
How cold Jefferson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 44°F | 52°F | 62°F | 69°F | 73°F | 71°F | 64°F | 52°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Jefferson County next to its neighbours
Lincoln County, AR, 40 km southeast, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Jefferson County's 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, AR | - | 47 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Lincoln County, AR | 40 km southeast | 47 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Grant County, AR | 45 km west | 73 nights | 11 nights | 29°F |
| Cleveland County, AR | 49 km southwest | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Arkansas County, AR | 51 km east | 49 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Lonoke County, AR | 53 km north | 55 nights | 8 nights | 30°F |
| Pulaski County, AR | 65 km northwest | 55 nights | 8 nights | 30°F |
Jefferson County within AR
Jefferson County ranks 73 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 209 ft, Jefferson County sits 138 ft below 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 Pine Bluff, AR, 10 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.