Will Pipes Freeze in Clay County, TX? 10 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Clay County
In a normal year Clay County, TX gets 10 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 27% 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 | 70 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 10 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 10 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 11/08, last around 04/01. For 20°F: 12/12 to 02/22.
How cold Clay County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 32°F | 40°F | 48°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 70°F | 62°F | 51°F | 39°F | 31°F |
Clay County next to its neighbours
Montague County, TX, 47 km east, gets 12 nights below 20°F to Clay County's 10 nights. Archer County, TX, 48 km southwest, gets 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County, TX | - | 70 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Montague County, TX | 47 km east | 63 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Archer County, TX | 48 km southwest | 57 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Jefferson County, OK | 49 km northeast | 62 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Wichita County, TX | 51 km northwest | 62 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Cotton County, OK | 58 km north | 73 nights | 13 nights | 28°F |
| Jack County, TX | 62 km south | 56 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
Clay County within TX
Clay County ranks 65 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 894 ft, Clay County sits 98 ft below the state's median county elevation of 992 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 Henrietta, TX, 3 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.