Will Pipes Freeze in Stephens County, GA? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Stephens County
In a normal year Stephens County, GA gets 6 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 19% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 53 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 6 nights of risk to under 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 11/11, last around 03/23. For 20°F: 01/02 to 01/31.
How cold Stephens County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 35°F | 41°F | 49°F | 57°F | 66°F | 69°F | 68°F | 63°F | 51°F | 41°F | 35°F |
Stephens County next to its neighbours
Franklin County, GA, 21 km south, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Stephens County's 6 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephens County, GA | - | 53 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Franklin County, GA | 21 km south | 56 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Habersham County, GA | 23 km northwest | 90 nights | 15 nights | 29°F |
| Banks County, GA | 29 km southwest | 67 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Oconee County, SC | 30 km northeast | 78 nights | 12 nights | 29°F |
| Hart County, GA | 38 km southeast | 49 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Rabun County, GA | 38 km north | 88 nights | 15 nights | 30°F |
Stephens County within GA
Stephens County ranks 55 of 159 GA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Union County, GA at 28 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Glynn County, GA: under 1 night, winter lows near 46°F. At 989 ft, Stephens County sits 568 ft above the state's median county elevation of 420 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Toccoa, GA, 5 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.