Will Pipes Freeze in Hidalgo County, TX? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Hidalgo County
In a normal year Hidalgo County, TX gets under 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 2% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 3 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | under 1 night |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 01/02, last around 01/08.
How cold Hidalgo County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 51°F; the coldest month, January, averages 48°F overnight. 3 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48°F | 53°F | 58°F | 64°F | 71°F | 75°F | 76°F | 76°F | 73°F | 65°F | 57°F | 50°F |
Hidalgo County next to its neighbours
The six closest counties all sit within a night of Hidalgo County.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo County, TX | - | 3 nights | under 1 night | 48°F |
| Starr County, TX | 58 km west | 4 nights | none | 46°F |
| Willacy County, TX | 59 km east | 2 nights | none | 49°F |
| Brooks County, TX | 71 km north | 9 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Cameron County, TX | 77 km southeast | under 1 night | none | 52°F |
| Kenedy County, TX | 80 km northeast | 10 nights | under 1 night | 45°F |
| Jim Hogg County, TX | 92 km northwest | 7 nights | under 1 night | 46°F |
Hidalgo County within TX
Hidalgo County ranks 244 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 73 ft, Hidalgo County sits 919 ft below the state's median county elevation of 992 ft.
What to do here
- Watch the forecast for a sub-threshold night.
- That night: drip the faucet on an outside wall, open the sink cabinet.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes in places that rarely freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Edinburg, TX, 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.