Will Pipes Freeze in Nicholas County, KY? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Nicholas County
In a normal year Nicholas County, KY gets 34 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 50% 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 | 107 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 9 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 10/30, last around 04/12. For 20°F: 12/03 to 03/07.
How cold Nicholas County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°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: 9 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 32°F | 41°F | 52°F | 60°F | 65°F | 62°F | 55°F | 43°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Nicholas County next to its neighbours
Robertson County, KY, 20 km north, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Nicholas County's 34 nights. Fleming County, KY, 29 km east, gets 30 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas County, KY | - | 107 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Robertson County, KY | 20 km north | 110 nights | 36 nights | 21°F |
| Bourbon County, KY | 22 km southwest | 108 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Fleming County, KY | 29 km east | 101 nights | 30 nights | 23°F |
| Harrison County, KY | 29 km northwest | 107 nights | 33 nights | 23°F |
| Bath County, KY | 33 km southeast | 107 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Mason County, KY | 33 km northeast | 110 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
Nicholas County within KY
Nicholas County ranks 25 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 909 ft, Nicholas County sits 113 ft above 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 Flemingsburg (2 mi N), KY, 28 km away (fair 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.