Will Pipes Freeze in Matagorda County, TX? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Matagorda County
In a normal year Matagorda 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 | 6 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 12/16, last around 02/05.
How cold Matagorda County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 46°F; the coldest month, January, averages 44°F overnight. 4 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44°F | 48°F | 54°F | 61°F | 69°F | 75°F | 77°F | 77°F | 72°F | 63°F | 53°F | 46°F |
Matagorda County next to its neighbours
The six closest counties all sit within a night of Matagorda County.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matagorda County, TX | - | 6 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Wharton County, TX | 60 km north | 12 nights | under 1 night | 42°F |
| Jackson County, TX | 61 km west | 7 nights | under 1 night | 45°F |
| Calhoun County, TX | 67 km southwest | 4 nights | under 1 night | 46°F |
| Brazoria County, TX | 70 km northeast | 6 nights | none | 47°F |
| Fort Bend County, TX | 87 km north | 9 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Victoria County, TX | 95 km west | 10 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
Matagorda County within TX
Matagorda County ranks 238 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 27 ft, Matagorda County sits 966 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 Matagorda No 2, 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.