Will Pipes Freeze in Vanderburgh County, IN? 21 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Vanderburgh County
In a normal year Vanderburgh County, IN gets 21 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 37% 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 | 81 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 21 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 6 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 21 nights of risk to 6 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 04/04. For 20°F: 12/02 to 03/02.
How cold Vanderburgh County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 29°F; the coldest month, January, averages 26°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 6 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26°F | 29°F | 37°F | 47°F | 57°F | 66°F | 70°F | 68°F | 60°F | 49°F | 38°F | 31°F |
Vanderburgh County next to its neighbours
Posey County, IN, 25 km west, gets 24 nights below 20°F to Vanderburgh County's 21 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderburgh County, IN | - | 81 nights | 21 nights | 26°F |
| Posey County, IN | 25 km west | 86 nights | 24 nights | 23°F |
| Henderson County, KY | 25 km south | 93 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
| Warrick County, IN | 29 km east | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Gibson County, IN | 33 km north | 101 nights | 32 nights | 21°F |
| Spencer County, IN | 50 km east | 85 nights | 22 nights | 26°F |
| Union County, KY | 51 km southwest | 82 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
Vanderburgh County within IN
Vanderburgh County ranks 90 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 395 ft, Vanderburgh County sits 364 ft below 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Evansville Regional Airport, IN, 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.