Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, FL? 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington County, FL gets 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 7% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 26 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 1 night |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 1 night of risk to none. 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 11/21, last around 03/05. For 20°F: 01/12 to 01/25.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 41°F; the coldest month, January, averages 39°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 42°F | 48°F | 54°F | 62°F | 70°F | 72°F | 72°F | 68°F | 57°F | 46°F | 42°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Holmes County, FL, 33 km northwest, gets 2 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 1 night. Jackson County, FL, 48 km northeast, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, FL | - | 26 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
| Holmes County, FL | 33 km northwest | 35 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Jackson County, FL | 48 km northeast | 23 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Walton County, FL | 49 km west | 25 nights | 1 night | 40°F |
| Calhoun County, FL | 50 km southeast | 22 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Bay County, FL | 51 km south | 14 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Geneva County, AL | 57 km north | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Washington County within FL
Washington County ranks 14 of 67 FL counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Holmes County, FL at 2 nights, with a 40°F average winter low. The fewest is Broward County, FL: none, winter lows near 60°F. At 113 ft, Washington County sits 59 ft above the state's median county elevation of 54 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Chipley, FL, 22 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.