Will Pipes Freeze in Cochran County, TX? 27 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Cochran County
In a normal year Cochran County, TX gets 27 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 43% 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 | 106 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 27 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 27 nights of risk to 3 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 10/31, last around 04/11. For 20°F: 11/30 to 03/03.
How cold Cochran County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°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: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 27°F | 33°F | 41°F | 52°F | 61°F | 64°F | 63°F | 56°F | 44°F | 32°F | 25°F |
Cochran County next to its neighbours
Bailey County, TX, 51 km north, gets 43 nights below 20°F to Cochran County's 27 nights. Hockley County, TX, 45 km east, gets 20 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochran County, TX | - | 106 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
| Hockley County, TX | 45 km east | 99 nights | 20 nights | 25°F |
| Yoakum County, TX | 50 km south | 99 nights | 23 nights | 25°F |
| Bailey County, TX | 51 km north | 125 nights | 43 nights | 21°F |
| Terry County, TX | 67 km southeast | 89 nights | 15 nights | 27°F |
| Lamb County, TX | 68 km northeast | 112 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 76 km northwest | 109 nights | 32 nights | 24°F |
Cochran County within TX
Cochran County ranks 24 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 3,809 ft, Cochran County sits 2,817 ft above 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Morton, TX, 14 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.