Will Pipes Freeze in Pike County, IN? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Pike County
In a normal year Pike County, IN gets 32 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 48% 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 | 101 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 10 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 32 nights of risk to 10 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 10/22, last around 04/20. For 20°F: 11/26 to 03/15.
How cold Pike County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°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: 10 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 25°F | 32°F | 41°F | 53°F | 62°F | 65°F | 62°F | 55°F | 44°F | 34°F | 26°F |
Pike County next to its neighbours
Dubois County, IN, 31 km east, gets 34 nights below 20°F to Pike County's 32 nights. Warrick County, IN, 34 km south, gets 25 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County, IN | - | 101 nights | 32 nights | 22°F |
| Dubois County, IN | 31 km east | 108 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
| Gibson County, IN | 32 km west | 101 nights | 32 nights | 21°F |
| Warrick County, IN | 34 km south | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Daviess County, IN | 36 km north | 94 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Knox County, IN | 36 km northwest | 105 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
| Spencer County, IN | 47 km southeast | 85 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
Pike County within IN
Pike County ranks 82 of 92 IN counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Steuben County, IN at 63 nights, with a 19°F average winter low. The fewest is Floyd County, IN: 19 nights, winter lows near 29°F. At 468 ft, Pike County sits 291 ft below the state's median county elevation of 759 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 Petersburg 61 Brg, IN, 8 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.