Will Pipes Freeze in Wayne County, MO? 28 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wayne County
In a normal year Wayne County, MO gets 28 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 44% 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 | 96 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 28 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 7 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 28 nights of risk to 7 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 11/02, last around 04/02. For 20°F: 12/04 to 02/28.
How cold Wayne County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 27°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, December: 7 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 28°F | 36°F | 46°F | 56°F | 65°F | 69°F | 67°F | 59°F | 47°F | 36°F | 28°F |
Wayne County next to its neighbours
Madison County, MO, 42 km north, gets 40 nights below 20°F to Wayne County's 28 nights. Butler County, MO, 44 km south, gets 19 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County, MO | - | 96 nights | 28 nights | 24°F |
| Madison County, MO | 42 km north | 111 nights | 40 nights | 22°F |
| Butler County, MO | 44 km south | 83 nights | 19 nights | 26°F |
| Bollinger County, MO | 44 km northeast | 95 nights | 30 nights | 25°F |
| Carter County, MO | 47 km southwest | 115 nights | 40 nights | 22°F |
| Stoddard County, MO | 53 km southeast | 89 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Reynolds County, MO | 54 km northwest | 118 nights | 46 nights | 22°F |
Wayne County within MO
Wayne County ranks 104 of 115 MO counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Caldwell County, MO at 65 nights, with a 19°F average winter low. The fewest is Pemiscot County, MO: 14 nights, winter lows near 31°F. At 480 ft, Wayne County sits 362 ft below the state's median county elevation of 842 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.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Wappapello Dam, MO, 26 km away (fair 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.