Will Pipes Freeze in Nelson County, KY? 26 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Nelson County
In a normal year Nelson 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 | 90 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 26 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 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 7 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 10/25, last around 04/13. For 20°F: 11/30 to 03/09.
How cold Nelson 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: 7 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 29°F | 36°F | 45°F | 55°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 58°F | 46°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Nelson County next to its neighbours
Washington County, KY, 26 km east, gets 29 nights below 20°F to Nelson County's 26 nights. Bullitt County, KY, 28 km northwest, gets 25 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, KY | - | 90 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Washington County, KY | 26 km east | 97 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Bullitt County, KY | 28 km northwest | 89 nights | 25 nights | 26°F |
| Spencer County, KY | 28 km northeast | 109 nights | 37 nights | 22°F |
| Marion County, KY | 33 km southeast | 105 nights | 32 nights | 25°F |
| Larue County, KY | 35 km southwest | 93 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Hardin County, KY | 45 km west | 99 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
Nelson County within KY
Nelson County ranks 80 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 636 ft, Nelson County sits 160 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.
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 Bardstown (5 mi E), KY, 7 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.