Will Pipes Freeze in Tuscaloosa County, AL? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Tuscaloosa County
In a normal year Tuscaloosa County, AL 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 15% 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 11/10, last around 03/18. For 20°F: 01/02 to 01/31.
How cold Tuscaloosa County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 46°F | 52°F | 61°F | 69°F | 72°F | 72°F | 66°F | 54°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Tuscaloosa County next to its neighbours
Bibb County, AL, 48 km southeast, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Tuscaloosa County's 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | - | 45 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Bibb County, AL | 48 km southeast | 60 nights | 8 nights | 33°F |
| Fayette County, AL | 52 km northwest | 71 nights | 10 nights | 34°F |
| Pickens County, AL | 53 km west | 58 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Walker County, AL | 59 km north | 73 nights | 12 nights | 31°F |
| Hale County, AL | 60 km south | 43 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Greene County, AL | 64 km southwest | 51 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
Tuscaloosa County within AL
Tuscaloosa County ranks 50 of 67 AL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Marion County, AL at 23 nights, with a 31°F average winter low. The fewest is Mobile County, AL: under 1 night, winter lows near 43°F. At 323 ft, Tuscaloosa County sits 113 ft below the state's median county elevation of 435 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 Northport (2 mi S), AL, 11 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.