Will Pipes Freeze in Guadalupe County, NM? 33 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Guadalupe County
In a normal year Guadalupe County, NM gets 33 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 49% 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 | 117 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 33 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 33 nights of risk to 4 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 10/23, last around 04/20. For 20°F: 11/18 to 03/06.
How cold Guadalupe County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 4 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 | 40°F | 48°F | 58°F | 61°F | 60°F | 53°F | 41°F | 31°F | 25°F |
Guadalupe County next to its neighbours
San Miguel County, NM, 68 km north, gets 97 nights below 20°F to Guadalupe County's 33 nights. Quay County, NM, 116 km east, gets 29 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe County, NM | - | 117 nights | 33 nights | 24°F |
| San Miguel County, NM | 68 km north | 187 nights | 97 nights | 14°F |
| De Baca County, NM | 68 km southeast | 115 nights | 35 nights | 24°F |
| Torrance County, NM | 107 km west | 169 nights | 73 nights | 19°F |
| Quay County, NM | 116 km east | 106 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Mora County, NM | 124 km north | 185 nights | 85 nights | 16°F |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 129 km northwest | 158 nights | 57 nights | 19°F |
Guadalupe County within NM
Guadalupe County ranks 21 of 33 NM counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Rio Arriba County, NM at 118 nights, with a 11°F average winter low. The fewest is Sierra County, NM: 6 nights, winter lows near 31°F. At 4,925 ft, Guadalupe County sits 680 ft below the state's median county elevation of 5,604 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 Santa Rosa, NM, 11 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.