Will Pipes Freeze in Lumpkin County, GA? 15 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Lumpkin County
In a normal year Lumpkin County, GA gets 15 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 32% 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 | 91 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 15 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 2 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 15 nights of risk to 2 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 04/14. For 20°F: 12/01 to 03/02.
How cold Lumpkin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 28°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: 2 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°F | 30°F | 36°F | 43°F | 52°F | 60°F | 64°F | 64°F | 57°F | 46°F | 36°F | 30°F |
Lumpkin County next to its neighbours
Union County, GA, 30 km north, gets 28 nights below 20°F to Lumpkin County's 15 nights. Dawson County, GA, 21 km southwest, gets 9 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumpkin County, GA | - | 91 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Dawson County, GA | 21 km southwest | 61 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| White County, GA | 25 km east | 91 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Union County, GA | 30 km north | 104 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Hall County, GA | 32 km southeast | 49 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Forsyth County, GA | 40 km south | 67 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Gilmer County, GA | 44 km west | 69 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
Lumpkin County within GA
Lumpkin County ranks 4 of 159 GA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Union County, GA at 28 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Glynn County, GA: under 1 night, winter lows near 46°F. At 1,543 ft, Lumpkin County sits 1,122 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 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 Cleveland, GA, 21 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.