Will Pipes Freeze in Okaloosa County, FL? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Okaloosa County
In a normal year Okaloosa County, FL gets 2 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 10% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 33 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 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 2 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 11/19, last around 03/12. For 20°F: 01/11 to 01/28.
How cold Okaloosa County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 41°F; the coldest month, January, averages 39°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 42°F | 48°F | 54°F | 62°F | 70°F | 72°F | 72°F | 68°F | 57°F | 46°F | 42°F |
Okaloosa County next to its neighbours
Covington County, AL, 71 km north, gets 3 nights below 20°F to Okaloosa County's 2 nights. Walton County, FL, 41 km east, gets 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa County, FL | - | 33 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Walton County, FL | 41 km east | 25 nights | 1 night | 40°F |
| Santa Rosa County, FL | 41 km west | 21 nights | 1 night | 41°F |
| Escambia County, FL | 70 km west | 13 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Covington County, AL | 71 km north | 38 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
| Escambia County, AL | 79 km northwest | 41 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
| Holmes County, FL | 79 km east | 35 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
Okaloosa County within FL
Okaloosa County ranks 2 of 67 FL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Holmes County, FL at 2 nights, with a 40°F average winter low. The fewest is Broward County, FL: none, winter lows near 60°F. At 208 ft, Okaloosa County sits 155 ft above the state's median county elevation of 54 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Niceville, FL, 13 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.