Will Pipes Freeze in Kerr County, TX? 10 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Kerr County
In a normal year Kerr County, TX gets 10 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 26% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. 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 | 63 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 10 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 10 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 11/01, last around 04/03. For 20°F: 12/07 to 02/22.
How cold Kerr County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 36°F | 43°F | 50°F | 60°F | 67°F | 69°F | 68°F | 61°F | 52°F | 41°F | 33°F |
Kerr County next to its neighbours
Bandera County, TX, 35 km south, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerr County, TX | - | 63 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Bandera County, TX | 35 km south | 45 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Gillespie County, TX | 49 km northeast | 42 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Real County, TX | 51 km southwest | 68 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Kimble County, TX | 60 km northwest | 61 nights | 9 nights | 32°F |
| Kendall County, TX | 63 km east | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Mason County, TX | 72 km north | 50 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
Kerr County within TX
Kerr County ranks 69 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 1,943 ft, Kerr County sits 950 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 Hunt (10 mi W), TX, 15 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.