Will Pipes Freeze in Limestone County, AL? 11 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Limestone County
In a normal year Limestone County, AL gets 11 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 27% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. 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 | 64 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 11 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 11 nights of risk to 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 11/12, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 01/01 to 02/04.
How cold Limestone County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°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: 1 night a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 43°F | 51°F | 60°F | 68°F | 72°F | 70°F | 64°F | 52°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Limestone County next to its neighbours
Madison County, AL, 40 km east, gets 11 nights below 20°F to Limestone County's 11 nights. Morgan County, AL, 41 km south, gets 8 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone County, AL | - | 64 nights | 11 nights | 33°F |
| Madison County, AL | 40 km east | 66 nights | 11 nights | 31°F |
| Morgan County, AL | 41 km south | 56 nights | 8 nights | 32°F |
| Giles County, TN | 44 km north | 90 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Lawrence County, AL | 44 km southwest | 66 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Lincoln County, TN | 51 km northeast | 73 nights | 15 nights | 30°F |
| Lawrence County, TN | 59 km northwest | 81 nights | 18 nights | 28°F |
Limestone County within AL
Limestone County ranks 17 of 67 AL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Marion County, AL at 23 nights, with a 31°F average winter low. The fewest is Mobile County, AL: under 1 night, winter lows near 43°F. At 706 ft, Limestone County sits 271 ft above the state's median county elevation of 435 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 Athens, AL, 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.