Will Pipes Freeze in McDonald County, MO? 30 nights a Year
Freeze nights in McDonald County
In a normal year McDonald County, MO gets 30 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 46% 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 | 100 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 30 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 30 nights of risk to 7 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 10/23, last around 04/15. For 20°F: 11/23 to 03/07.
How cold McDonald 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: 7 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 28°F | 37°F | 45°F | 55°F | 64°F | 68°F | 66°F | 58°F | 46°F | 36°F | 28°F |
McDonald County next to its neighbours
Newton County, MO, 31 km north, gets 33 nights below 20°F to McDonald County's 30 nights. Benton County, AR, 33 km south, gets 29 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald County, MO | - | 100 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
| Newton County, MO | 31 km north | 100 nights | 33 nights | 24°F |
| Benton County, AR | 33 km south | 98 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Barry County, MO | 46 km east | 109 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Ottawa County, OK | 47 km northwest | 90 nights | 25 nights | 24°F |
| Delaware County, OK | 49 km southwest | 93 nights | 26 nights | 24°F |
| Jasper County, MO | 64 km north | 93 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
McDonald County within MO
McDonald County ranks 99 of 115 MO counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Caldwell County, MO at 65 nights, with a 19°F average winter low. The fewest is Pemiscot County, MO: 14 nights, winter lows near 31°F. At 1,020 ft, McDonald County sits 178 ft above the state's median county elevation of 842 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 Anderson, MO, 9 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.