Will Pipes Freeze in Sumter County, FL? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Sumter County
In a normal year Sumter County, FL gets under 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 2% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 8 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | under 1 night |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 12/05, last around 03/02. For 20°F: 01/09 to 01/12.
How cold Sumter County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 45°F; the coldest month, January, averages 43°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43°F | 46°F | 50°F | 56°F | 62°F | 68°F | 70°F | 70°F | 69°F | 61°F | 52°F | 46°F |
Sumter County next to its neighbours
The six closest counties all sit within a night of Sumter County.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County, FL | - | 8 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Lake County, FL | 35 km east | 6 nights | under 1 night | 47°F |
| Hernando County, FL | 48 km west | 9 nights | under 1 night | 47°F |
| Citrus County, FL | 53 km west | 11 nights | under 1 night | 46°F |
| Marion County, FL | 54 km north | 8 nights | under 1 night | 46°F |
| Pasco County, FL | 62 km southwest | 10 nights | under 1 night | 46°F |
| Orange County, FL | 76 km east | 1 night | none | 52°F |
Sumter County within FL
Sumter County ranks 36 of 67 FL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Holmes County, FL at 2 nights, with a 40°F average winter low. The fewest is Broward County, FL: none, winter lows near 60°F. At 74 ft, Sumter County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 54 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Bushnell (1 mi E), FL, 6 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.