Will Pipes Freeze in Lewis County, KY? 37 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Lewis County
In a normal year Lewis County, KY gets 37 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 53% 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 | 118 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 37 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 12 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 3 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 37 nights of risk to 12 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 10/18, last around 04/24. For 20°F: 11/17 to 03/20.
How cold Lewis 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, March, December: 12 nights a year, and 3 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 31°F | 40°F | 51°F | 59°F | 64°F | 62°F | 55°F | 42°F | 32°F | 27°F |
Lewis County next to its neighbours
Adams County, OH, 35 km north, gets 39 nights below 20°F to Lewis County's 37 nights. Fleming County, KY, 34 km southwest, gets 30 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County, KY | - | 118 nights | 37 nights | 23°F |
| Fleming County, KY | 34 km southwest | 101 nights | 30 nights | 23°F |
| Adams County, OH | 35 km north | 117 nights | 39 nights | 20°F |
| Rowan County, KY | 37 km south | 105 nights | 33 nights | 24°F |
| Carter County, KY | 38 km southeast | 134 nights | 47 nights | 21°F |
| Greenup County, KY | 38 km east | 119 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Mason County, KY | 40 km west | 110 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
Lewis County within KY
Lewis County ranks 15 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 857 ft, Lewis County sits 60 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Olive Hill (5 mi NE), KY, 32 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.