Will Pipes Freeze in Jefferson County, KY? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Jefferson County
In a normal year Jefferson County, KY gets 20 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 37% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 78 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 20 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 20 nights of risk to 4 nights. 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 11/03, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/08 to 02/28.
How cold Jefferson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 30°F | 38°F | 48°F | 58°F | 66°F | 70°F | 68°F | 61°F | 49°F | 38°F | 31°F |
Jefferson County next to its neighbours
Bullitt County, KY, 25 km south, gets 25 nights below 20°F to Jefferson County's 20 nights. Floyd County, IN, 26 km northwest, gets 19 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, KY | - | 78 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Bullitt County, KY | 25 km south | 89 nights | 25 nights | 26°F |
| Floyd County, IN | 26 km northwest | 77 nights | 19 nights | 27°F |
| Oldham County, KY | 29 km northeast | 106 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Clark County, IN | 32 km north | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Spencer County, KY | 35 km southeast | 109 nights | 37 nights | 22°F |
| Shelby County, KY | 38 km east | 135 nights | 55 nights | 21°F |
Jefferson County within KY
Jefferson County ranks 115 of 120 KY counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Shelby County, KY at 55 nights, with a 22°F average winter low. The fewest is Lyon County, KY: 15 nights, winter lows near 32°F. At 486 ft, Jefferson County sits 310 ft below the state's median county elevation of 797 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Louisville Bowman Field, KY, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.