Will Pipes Freeze in Switzerland County, IN? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Switzerland County
In a normal year Switzerland County, IN gets 34 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 49% 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 | 106 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 10 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 10 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 10/29, last around 04/17. For 20°F: 11/30 to 03/10.
How cold Switzerland County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 23°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, March, December: 10 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23°F | 25°F | 33°F | 42°F | 53°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 34°F | 28°F |
Switzerland County next to its neighbours
Ohio County, IN, 14 km northeast, gets 37 nights below 20°F to Switzerland County's 34 nights. Carroll County, KY, 19 km southwest, gets 29 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland County, IN | - | 106 nights | 34 nights | 23°F |
| Ohio County, IN | 14 km northeast | 111 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Gallatin County, KY | 16 km southeast | 114 nights | 39 nights | 21°F |
| Carroll County, KY | 19 km southwest | 98 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Boone County, KY | 29 km northeast | 101 nights | 30 nights | 23°F |
| Dearborn County, IN | 35 km north | 123 nights | 43 nights | 20°F |
| Jefferson County, IN | 36 km west | 99 nights | 31 nights | 24°F |
Switzerland County within IN
Switzerland County ranks 78 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 835 ft, Switzerland County sits 76 ft above 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Warsaw Markland Dam, KY, 8 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.