Will Pipes Freeze in Montgomery County, AL? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Montgomery County
In a normal year Montgomery County, AL 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 15% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 39 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 11/18, last around 03/04. For 20°F: 01/04 to 01/17.
How cold Montgomery County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 41°F; the coldest month, January, averages 40°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F | 43°F | 49°F | 55°F | 64°F | 71°F | 75°F | 74°F | 69°F | 56°F | 46°F | 41°F |
Montgomery County next to its neighbours
Elmore County, AL, 44 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Montgomery County's 4 nights. Lowndes County, AL, 42 km west, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, AL | - | 39 nights | 4 nights | 40°F |
| Lowndes County, AL | 42 km west | 39 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Elmore County, AL | 44 km north | 48 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Bullock County, AL | 47 km east | 59 nights | 6 nights | 35°F |
| Pike County, AL | 51 km southeast | 38 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Macon County, AL | 52 km northeast | 53 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Crenshaw County, AL | 54 km south | 45 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
Montgomery County within AL
Montgomery County ranks 52 of 67 AL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Marion County, AL at 23 nights, with a 31°F average winter low. The fewest is Mobile County, AL: under 1 night, winter lows near 43°F. At 246 ft, Montgomery County sits 189 ft below the state's median county elevation of 435 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 Montgomery (6 mi SW), AL, 7 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.