Will Pipes Freeze in Sumter County, GA? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sumter County
In a normal year Sumter County, GA gets 4 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 16% 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 | 45 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 11/14, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/29.
How cold Sumter County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 38°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 69°F | 64°F | 53°F | 42°F | 37°F |
Sumter County next to its neighbours
Lee County, GA, 25 km south, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County, GA | - | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Lee County, GA | 25 km south | 37 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Schley County, GA | 27 km northwest | 45 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Webster County, GA | 33 km west | 48 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Terrell County, GA | 37 km southwest | 40 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Macon County, GA | 38 km north | 40 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Dooly County, GA | 39 km east | 34 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
Sumter County within GA
Sumter County ranks 78 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 407 ft, Sumter County sits close to 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 Americus, GA, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.