Will Pipes Freeze in Hamilton County, TX? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hamilton County
In a normal year Hamilton County, TX gets 6 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 19% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 48 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/18, last around 03/15. For 20°F: 12/31 to 01/30.
How cold Hamilton County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 37°F | 44°F | 52°F | 62°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 54°F | 43°F | 35°F |
Hamilton County next to its neighbours
Comanche County, TX, 49 km northwest, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Hamilton County's 6 nights. Coryell County, TX, 46 km southeast, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County, TX | - | 48 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Coryell County, TX | 46 km southeast | 42 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Comanche County, TX | 49 km northwest | 56 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Bosque County, TX | 50 km northeast | 51 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Mills County, TX | 51 km southwest | 38 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Lampasas County, TX | 58 km south | 49 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Erath County, TX | 60 km north | 54 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
Hamilton County within TX
Hamilton County ranks 113 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 1,167 ft, Hamilton County sits 174 ft above the state's median county elevation of 992 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Evant (1 mi SSW), TX, 28 km away (fair 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.