Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, IN? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington 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 50% 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 | 104 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 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 9 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 10/22, last around 04/17. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/14.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°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, March, December: 9 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 26°F | 34°F | 43°F | 53°F | 62°F | 65°F | 63°F | 56°F | 45°F | 35°F | 28°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Scott County, IN, 32 km east, gets 36 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 34 nights. Floyd County, IN, 36 km southeast, gets 19 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, IN | - | 104 nights | 34 nights | 24°F |
| Scott County, IN | 32 km east | 113 nights | 36 nights | 23°F |
| Orange County, IN | 34 km west | 118 nights | 41 nights | 21°F |
| Jackson County, IN | 35 km north | 115 nights | 37 nights | 22°F |
| Floyd County, IN | 36 km southeast | 77 nights | 19 nights | 27°F |
| Clark County, IN | 37 km east | 90 nights | 25 nights | 25°F |
| Lawrence County, IN | 43 km northwest | 112 nights | 40 nights | 21°F |
Washington County within IN
Washington County ranks 76 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 730 ft, Washington County sits close to 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 Salem, IN, 2 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.