Will Pipes Freeze in McDuffie County, GA? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in McDuffie County
In a normal year McDuffie County, GA gets 4 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 14% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 33 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 4 nights of risk to none. 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 11/17, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 01/11 to 01/30.
How cold McDuffie County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 36°F | 43°F | 51°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 69°F | 64°F | 53°F | 42°F | 37°F |
McDuffie County next to its neighbours
Warren County, GA, 20 km southwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to McDuffie County's 4 nights. Richmond County, GA, 40 km east, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDuffie County, GA | - | 33 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Warren County, GA | 20 km southwest | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Columbia County, GA | 23 km east | 60 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Glascock County, GA | 31 km southwest | 48 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Lincoln County, GA | 35 km north | 60 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Taliaferro County, GA | 38 km west | 56 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Richmond County, GA | 40 km east | 37 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
McDuffie County within GA
McDuffie County ranks 84 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 510 ft, McDuffie County sits 90 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Thomson (1.5 mi SE), GA, 3 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.