Will Pipes Freeze in Meade County, KY? 38 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Meade County
In a normal year Meade County, KY gets 38 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 54% 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 | 111 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 38 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 11 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 38 nights of risk to 11 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 10/24, last around 04/19. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/14.
How cold Meade County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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: 11 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 32°F | 42°F | 53°F | 61°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 44°F | 34°F | 27°F |
Meade County next to its neighbours
Breckinridge County, KY, 29 km southwest, gets 40 nights below 20°F to Meade County's 38 nights. Harrison County, IN, 26 km north, gets 27 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meade County, KY | - | 111 nights | 38 nights | 23°F |
| Harrison County, IN | 26 km north | 92 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Breckinridge County, KY | 29 km southwest | 112 nights | 40 nights | 23°F |
| Hardin County, KY | 37 km southeast | 99 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Perry County, IN | 39 km west | 83 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Crawford County, IN | 42 km northwest | 110 nights | 37 nights | 24°F |
| Bullitt County, KY | 44 km east | 89 nights | 25 nights | 26°F |
Meade County within KY
Meade County ranks 11 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 586 ft, Meade County sits 211 ft below 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 Brandenburg, KY, 8 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.