Will Pipes Freeze in Martin County, TX? 9 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Martin County
In a normal year Martin County, TX 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 24% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 65 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 11/09, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/15 to 02/06.
How cold Martin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 32°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 34°F | 41°F | 49°F | 59°F | 67°F | 70°F | 69°F | 62°F | 51°F | 39°F | 31°F |
Martin County next to its neighbours
Dawson County, TX, 48 km north, gets 16 nights below 20°F to Martin County's 9 nights. Howard County, TX, 49 km east, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County, TX | - | 65 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Dawson County, TX | 48 km north | 93 nights | 16 nights | 26°F |
| Howard County, TX | 49 km east | 55 nights | 5 nights | 31°F |
| Midland County, TX | 55 km south | 54 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Andrews County, TX | 64 km west | 60 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Glasscock County, TX | 64 km southeast | 73 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Borden County, TX | 68 km northeast | 56 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
Martin County within TX
Martin County ranks 82 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 2,842 ft, Martin County sits 1,850 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.
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 Midland (4 mi ENE), TX, 33 km away (fair 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.