Will Pipes Freeze in Sebastian County, AR? 11 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sebastian County
In a normal year Sebastian County, AR gets 11 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 27% 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 | 68 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 11 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 11 nights of risk to 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 03/25. For 20°F: 12/16 to 02/12.
How cold Sebastian County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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: 1 night a year, and none below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 33°F | 41°F | 49°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 70°F | 62°F | 50°F | 39°F | 32°F |
Sebastian County next to its neighbours
Scott County, AR, 42 km southeast, gets 17 nights below 20°F to Sebastian County's 11 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian County, AR | - | 68 nights | 11 nights | 29°F |
| Scott County, AR | 42 km southeast | 81 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Crawford County, AR | 43 km north | 84 nights | 18 nights | 26°F |
| Franklin County, AR | 49 km northeast | 72 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
| Logan County, AR | 50 km east | 69 nights | 12 nights | 28°F |
| Le Flore County, OK | 51 km southwest | 76 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Sequoyah County, OK | 55 km northwest | 67 nights | 15 nights | 28°F |
Sebastian County within AR
Sebastian County ranks 37 of 75 AR counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Benton County, AR at 29 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Miller County, AR: 3 nights, winter lows near 37°F. At 535 ft, Sebastian County sits 188 ft above the state's median county elevation of 347 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 Fort Smith Regional Airport, AR, 17 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.