Will Pipes Freeze in Spencer County, IN? 22 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Spencer County
In a normal year Spencer County, IN gets 22 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 39% 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 | 85 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 22 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 22 nights of risk to 6 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 11/01, last around 04/05. For 20°F: 12/08 to 02/27.
How cold Spencer County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 28°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°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: 6 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 29°F | 36°F | 46°F | 55°F | 64°F | 67°F | 66°F | 58°F | 47°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Spencer County next to its neighbours
Warrick County, IN, 25 km northwest, gets 25 nights below 20°F to Spencer County's 22 nights. Hancock County, KY, 27 km southeast, gets 20 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer County, IN | - | 85 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Warrick County, IN | 25 km northwest | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Hancock County, KY | 27 km southeast | 80 nights | 20 nights | 26°F |
| Daviess County, KY | 32 km south | 87 nights | 24 nights | 25°F |
| Perry County, IN | 35 km east | 83 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Dubois County, IN | 42 km north | 108 nights | 34 nights | 22°F |
| Pike County, IN | 47 km northwest | 101 nights | 32 nights | 22°F |
Spencer County within IN
Spencer County ranks 89 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 467 ft, Spencer County sits 292 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 Tell City, IN, 22 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.