Will Pipes Freeze in Miami County, OH? 39 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Miami County
In a normal year Miami County, OH gets 39 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 | 114 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 39 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 15 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 5 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 39 nights of risk to 15 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 04/18. For 20°F: 11/29 to 03/16.
How cold Miami County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 23°F; the coldest month, January, averages 20°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, March, December: 15 nights a year, and 5 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20°F | 23°F | 31°F | 41°F | 52°F | 61°F | 64°F | 62°F | 55°F | 44°F | 34°F | 25°F |
Miami County next to its neighbours
Shelby County, OH, 32 km north, gets 50 nights below 20°F to Miami County's 39 nights. Montgomery County, OH, 34 km south, gets 37 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami County, OH | - | 114 nights | 39 nights | 20°F |
| Shelby County, OH | 32 km north | 131 nights | 50 nights | 18°F |
| Montgomery County, OH | 34 km south | 107 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Darke County, OH | 35 km west | 126 nights | 49 nights | 19°F |
| Champaign County, OH | 40 km east | 121 nights | 45 nights | 19°F |
| Clark County, OH | 41 km east | 126 nights | 48 nights | 18°F |
| Greene County, OH | 50 km southeast | 106 nights | 36 nights | 22°F |
Miami County within OH
Miami County ranks 72 of 88 OH counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Williams County, OH at 61 nights, with a 19°F average winter low. The fewest is Scioto County, OH: 28 nights, winter lows near 24°F. At 876 ft, Miami County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 916 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 Piqua Wastewater Plant, OH, 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.