Will Pipes Freeze in Graham County, AZ? 9 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Graham County
In a normal year Graham County, AZ gets 9 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 25% 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 | 75 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 9 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 9 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 11/06, last around 04/01. For 20°F: 12/06 to 02/02.
How cold Graham County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, December, 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 | 33°F | 38°F | 45°F | 53°F | 63°F | 71°F | 69°F | 62°F | 48°F | 36°F | 29°F |
Graham County next to its neighbours
Greenlee County, AZ, 68 km northeast, gets 50 nights below 20°F to Graham County's 9 nights. Cochise County, AZ, 122 km south, gets 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham County, AZ | - | 75 nights | 9 nights | 29°F |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 68 km northeast | 156 nights | 50 nights | 21°F |
| Cochise County, AZ | 122 km south | 73 nights | 7 nights | 30°F |
| Gila County, AZ | 129 km northwest | 24 nights | under 1 night | 36°F |
| Pinal County, AZ | 139 km west | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Grant County, NM | 142 km east | 117 nights | 24 nights | 28°F |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 156 km southeast | 76 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
Graham County within AZ
Graham County ranks 7 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 2,772 ft, Graham County sits 1,300 ft below 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 Fort Thomas (2 mi SW), AZ, 13 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.