Will Pipes Freeze in Oglethorpe County, GA? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Oglethorpe County
In a normal year Oglethorpe County, GA gets 7 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 22% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 58 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 7 nights of risk to under 1 night. 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 11/06, last around 03/31. For 20°F: 12/25 to 02/10.
How cold Oglethorpe County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 36°F | 40°F | 48°F | 57°F | 65°F | 69°F | 68°F | 62°F | 50°F | 40°F | 35°F |
Oglethorpe County next to its neighbours
Elbert County, GA, 35 km northeast, gets 13 nights below 20°F to Oglethorpe County's 7 nights. Clarke County, GA, 29 km west, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oglethorpe County, GA | - | 58 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Clarke County, GA | 29 km west | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Madison County, GA | 32 km northwest | 59 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Wilkes County, GA | 32 km east | 52 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Greene County, GA | 33 km south | 58 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Oconee County, GA | 34 km west | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Elbert County, GA | 35 km northeast | 83 nights | 13 nights | 30°F |
Oglethorpe County within GA
Oglethorpe County ranks 38 of 159 GA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Union County, GA at 28 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Glynn County, GA: under 1 night, winter lows near 46°F. At 649 ft, Oglethorpe County sits 228 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Lexington, GA, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.