Will Pipes Freeze in Wilson County, KS? 36 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wilson County
In a normal year Wilson County, KS gets 36 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 52% 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 | 109 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 36 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 10 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 36 nights of risk to 10 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 10/26, last around 04/12. For 20°F: 11/25 to 03/07.
How cold Wilson County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 22°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: 10 nights a year, and 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°F | 26°F | 35°F | 45°F | 56°F | 65°F | 69°F | 67°F | 59°F | 46°F | 35°F | 26°F |
Wilson County next to its neighbours
Woodson County, KS, 37 km north, gets 37 nights below 20°F to Wilson County's 36 nights. Neosho County, KS, 38 km east, gets 33 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson County, KS | - | 109 nights | 36 nights | 22°F |
| Woodson County, KS | 37 km north | 108 nights | 37 nights | 21°F |
| Neosho County, KS | 38 km east | 102 nights | 33 nights | 22°F |
| Montgomery County, KS | 41 km south | 97 nights | 29 nights | 23°F |
| Elk County, KS | 46 km west | 114 nights | 42 nights | 20°F |
| Allen County, KS | 53 km northeast | 107 nights | 36 nights | 21°F |
| Greenwood County, KS | 56 km northwest | 118 nights | 43 nights | 19°F |
Wilson County within KS
Wilson County ranks 97 of 105 KS counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Rawlins County, KS at 83 nights, with a 16°F average winter low. The fewest is Cherokee County, KS: 27 nights, winter lows near 26°F. At 926 ft, Wilson County sits 600 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,526 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Fredonia, KS, 8 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.