Will Pipes Freeze in Johnson County, KY? 31 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Johnson County
In a normal year Johnson County, KY gets 31 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 47% 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 | 115 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 31 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 31 nights of risk to 8 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 10/25, last around 04/19. For 20°F: 11/23 to 03/12.
How cold Johnson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 31°F | 40°F | 51°F | 60°F | 64°F | 62°F | 55°F | 42°F | 31°F | 27°F |
Johnson County next to its neighbours
Lawrence County, KY, 26 km north, gets 37 nights below 20°F to Johnson County's 31 nights. Magoffin County, KY, 27 km southwest, gets 22 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County, KY | - | 115 nights | 31 nights | 23°F |
| Lawrence County, KY | 26 km north | 123 nights | 37 nights | 23°F |
| Magoffin County, KY | 27 km southwest | 112 nights | 22 nights | 23°F |
| Martin County, KY | 29 km east | 104 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Floyd County, KY | 34 km south | 108 nights | 24 nights | 23°F |
| Elliott County, KY | 38 km northwest | 118 nights | 41 nights | 22°F |
| Morgan County, KY | 39 km west | 140 nights | 49 nights | 22°F |
Johnson County within KY
Johnson County ranks 40 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 1,106 ft, Johnson County sits 309 ft above 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Paintsville (1 mi E), KY, 5 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.