Will Pipes Freeze in Cochise County, AZ? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Cochise County
In a normal year Cochise County, AZ gets 7 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 22% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 73 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 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 7 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 11/02, last around 04/14. For 20°F: 12/07 to 02/07.
How cold Cochise County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 33°F | 38°F | 43°F | 51°F | 60°F | 66°F | 64°F | 58°F | 47°F | 37°F | 31°F |
Cochise County next to its neighbours
Hidalgo County, NM, 97 km east, gets 10 nights below 20°F to Cochise County's 7 nights. Santa Cruz County, AZ, 107 km west, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochise County, AZ | - | 73 nights | 7 nights | 30°F |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 97 km east | 76 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Santa Cruz County, AZ | 107 km west | 48 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Graham County, AZ | 122 km north | 75 nights | 9 nights | 29°F |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 163 km north | 156 nights | 50 nights | 21°F |
| Grant County, NM | 164 km northeast | 117 nights | 24 nights | 28°F |
| Pinal County, AZ | 192 km northwest | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
Cochise County within AZ
Cochise County ranks 8 of 15 AZ counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Coconino County, AZ at 67 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Maricopa County, AZ: none, winter lows near 43°F. At 4,453 ft, Cochise County sits 381 ft above the state's median county elevation of 4,072 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 Pearce - Sunsites, AZ, 12 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.