Will Pipes Freeze in Scott County, IN? 36 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Scott County
In a normal year Scott County, IN gets 36 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 52% 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 | 113 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 36 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 11 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 3 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 36 nights of risk to 11 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 10/20, last around 04/18. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/13.
How cold Scott 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, December: 11 nights a year, and 3 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 32°F | 42°F | 53°F | 62°F | 66°F | 63°F | 54°F | 43°F | 33°F | 27°F |
Scott County next to its neighbours
Jackson County, IN, 36 km northwest, gets 37 nights below 20°F to Scott County's 36 nights. Clark County, IN, 23 km south, gets 25 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County, IN | - | 113 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Clark County, IN | 23 km south | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Jefferson County, IN | 29 km northeast | 99 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
| Washington County, IN | 32 km west | 104 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Trimble County, KY | 35 km east | 97 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Jackson County, IN | 36 km northwest | 115 nights | 37 nights | 22°F |
| Jennings County, IN | 37 km north | 102 nights | 33 nights | 23°F |
Scott County within IN
Scott County ranks 71 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 582 ft, Scott County sits 177 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 Scottsburg, IN, 3 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.