Will Pipes Freeze in Metcalfe County, KY? 26 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Metcalfe County
In a normal year Metcalfe County, KY gets 26 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 42% 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 | 88 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 26 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 26 nights of risk to 6 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 04/05. For 20°F: 12/07 to 03/03.
How cold Metcalfe County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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: 6 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 28°F | 35°F | 45°F | 54°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 58°F | 46°F | 36°F | 30°F |
Metcalfe County next to its neighbours
Monroe County, KY, 32 km south, gets 27 nights below 20°F to Metcalfe County's 26 nights. Barren County, KY, 27 km west, gets 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metcalfe County, KY | - | 88 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Barren County, KY | 27 km west | 81 nights | 21 nights | 29°F |
| Monroe County, KY | 32 km south | 91 nights | 27 nights | 25°F |
| Cumberland County, KY | 32 km southeast | 101 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Green County, KY | 33 km north | 102 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Adair County, KY | 34 km east | 104 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Hart County, KY | 41 km northwest | 101 nights | 31 nights | 25°F |
Metcalfe County within KY
Metcalfe County ranks 84 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 718 ft, Metcalfe County sits 78 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.
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 Knob Lick (4 mi S), KY, 7 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.