Will Pipes Freeze in Leslie County, KY? 24 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Leslie County
In a normal year Leslie County, KY gets 24 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 40% 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 | 103 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 24 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 24 nights of risk to 5 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: 11/27 to 03/18.
How cold Leslie County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°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: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Leslie County next to its neighbours
Harlan County, KY, 29 km southeast, gets 30 nights below 20°F to Leslie County's 24 nights. Perry County, KY, 23 km northeast, gets 23 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie County, KY | - | 103 nights | 24 nights | 25°F |
| Perry County, KY | 23 km northeast | 104 nights | 23 nights | 25°F |
| Harlan County, KY | 29 km southeast | 109 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
| Clay County, KY | 30 km west | 112 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Owsley County, KY | 46 km northwest | 118 nights | 36 nights | 24°F |
| Letcher County, KY | 47 km east | 110 nights | 25 nights | 24°F |
| Knox County, KY | 47 km southwest | 109 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
Leslie County within KY
Leslie County ranks 92 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 903 ft, Leslie County sits 106 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 Buckhorn Lake, KY, 29 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.