Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, AL? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington 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 | 50 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 11/08, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/29 to 02/04.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 43°F | 49°F | 59°F | 66°F | 69°F | 69°F | 64°F | 52°F | 41°F | 36°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Wayne County, MS, 51 km northwest, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 4 nights. George County, MS, 74 km southwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, AL | - | 50 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Greene County, MS | 46 km southwest | 50 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Clarke County, AL | 48 km northeast | 46 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Wayne County, MS | 51 km northwest | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Choctaw County, AL | 65 km north | 46 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| George County, MS | 74 km southwest | 28 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Perry County, MS | 78 km west | 47 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
Washington County within AL
Washington County ranks 49 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 141 ft, Washington County sits 294 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Chatom, AL, 8 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.