Will Pipes Freeze in McIntosh County, OK? 20 nights a Year
Freeze nights in McIntosh County
In a normal year McIntosh County, OK gets 20 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 36% 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 | 81 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 20 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 20 nights of risk to 3 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 11/02, last around 04/02. For 20°F: 12/06 to 02/23.
How cold McIntosh County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 27°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27°F | 30°F | 39°F | 47°F | 57°F | 66°F | 70°F | 68°F | 61°F | 49°F | 38°F | 29°F |
McIntosh County next to its neighbours
Okmulgee County, OK, 40 km northwest, gets 22 nights below 20°F to McIntosh County's 20 nights. Muskogee County, OK, 38 km northeast, gets 16 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McIntosh County, OK | - | 81 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Muskogee County, OK | 38 km northeast | 73 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Okmulgee County, OK | 40 km northwest | 87 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Pittsburg County, OK | 50 km south | 66 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
| Haskell County, OK | 53 km east | 66 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
| Okfuskee County, OK | 60 km west | 52 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| Hughes County, OK | 63 km southwest | 72 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
McIntosh County within OK
McIntosh County ranks 37 of 77 OK counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Beaver County, OK at 55 nights, with a 21°F average winter low. The fewest is Choctaw County, OK: 7 nights, winter lows near 34°F. At 627 ft, McIntosh County sits 382 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,009 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 Muskogee Davis Field, OK, 43 km away (fair 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.