Will Pipes Freeze in Marion County, KY? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Marion County
In a normal year Marion County, KY gets 32 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 48% 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 | 105 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 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 32 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 10/20, last around 04/22. For 20°F: 11/20 to 03/18.
How cold Marion 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, December: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 27°F | 33°F | 42°F | 53°F | 61°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 44°F | 34°F | 28°F |
Marion County next to its neighbours
Taylor County, KY, 21 km south, gets 30 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County, KY | - | 105 nights | 32 nights | 25°F |
| Taylor County, KY | 21 km south | 105 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
| Washington County, KY | 24 km north | 97 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Nelson County, KY | 33 km northwest | 90 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Boyle County, KY | 36 km east | 100 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Larue County, KY | 38 km west | 93 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Green County, KY | 39 km southwest | 102 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
Marion County within KY
Marion County ranks 35 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 807 ft, Marion County sits close to 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Bradfordsville, KY, 12 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.