Will Pipes Freeze in Brown County, TX? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Brown County
In a normal year Brown County, TX gets 6 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 20% 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 | 55 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/10, last around 03/22. For 20°F: 12/21 to 02/03.
How cold Brown County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 36°F | 44°F | 51°F | 62°F | 69°F | 72°F | 72°F | 65°F | 53°F | 42°F | 34°F |
Brown County next to its neighbours
Comanche County, TX, 47 km northeast, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Brown County's 6 nights. Mills County, TX, 49 km southeast, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County, TX | - | 55 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Coleman County, TX | 37 km northwest | 48 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Comanche County, TX | 47 km northeast | 56 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Mills County, TX | 49 km southeast | 38 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Eastland County, TX | 64 km north | 65 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Callahan County, TX | 69 km northwest | 54 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| San Saba County, TX | 70 km south | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
Brown County within TX
Brown County ranks 110 of 254 TX counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Lipscomb County, TX at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Cameron County, TX: none, winter lows near 54°F. At 1,387 ft, Brown County sits 395 ft above the state's median county elevation of 992 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 Brownwood (2 mi ENE), TX, 6 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.