Will Pipes Freeze in Russell County, KY? 32 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Russell County
In a normal year Russell County, KY 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 | 110 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 32 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 8 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 32 nights of risk to 8 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 10/24, last around 04/18. For 20°F: 11/24 to 03/14.
How cold Russell County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, March, December: 8 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 27°F | 34°F | 42°F | 53°F | 61°F | 65°F | 64°F | 56°F | 45°F | 34°F | 29°F |
Russell County next to its neighbours
Casey County, KY, 39 km north, gets 34 nights below 20°F to Russell County's 32 nights. Adair County, KY, 24 km northwest, gets 29 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County, KY | - | 110 nights | 32 nights | 25°F |
| Adair County, KY | 24 km northwest | 104 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Wayne County, KY | 29 km southeast | 99 nights | 28 nights | 26°F |
| Clinton County, KY | 30 km south | 98 nights | 26 nights | 26°F |
| Cumberland County, KY | 38 km southwest | 101 nights | 29 nights | 25°F |
| Casey County, KY | 39 km north | 109 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Pulaski County, KY | 44 km east | 94 nights | 26 nights | 29°F |
Russell County within KY
Russell County ranks 34 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 971 ft, Russell County sits 175 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 Jamestown Wastewater Plant, KY, 2 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.