Will Pipes Freeze in Muskingum County, OH? 39 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Muskingum County
In a normal year Muskingum 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 55% 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 | 116 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 39 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 12 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 3 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 39 nights of risk to 12 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 10/19, last around 04/26. For 20°F: 11/24 to 03/21.
How cold Muskingum County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 24°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, March, December: 12 nights a year, and 3 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 24°F | 32°F | 41°F | 51°F | 60°F | 64°F | 62°F | 55°F | 43°F | 34°F | 27°F |
Muskingum County next to its neighbours
Perry County, OH, 35 km southwest, gets 52 nights below 20°F to Muskingum County's 39 nights. Guernsey County, OH, 39 km east, gets 37 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskingum County, OH | - | 116 nights | 39 nights | 22°F |
| Perry County, OH | 35 km southwest | 138 nights | 52 nights | 18°F |
| Coshocton County, OH | 37 km north | 124 nights | 44 nights | 20°F |
| Morgan County, OH | 39 km south | 127 nights | 44 nights | 20°F |
| Guernsey County, OH | 39 km east | 113 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Noble County, OH | 47 km southeast | 124 nights | 45 nights | 20°F |
| Licking County, OH | 48 km west | 126 nights | 45 nights | 19°F |
Muskingum County within OH
Muskingum County ranks 68 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 934 ft, Muskingum 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.
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 Zanesville Municipal Airport, OH, 5 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.