Will Pipes Freeze in McCulloch County, TX? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in McCulloch County
In a normal year McCulloch County, TX gets 5 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 16% 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 | 44 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 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 5 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 11/15, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 12/28 to 01/29.
How cold McCulloch County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 39°F | 46°F | 53°F | 63°F | 69°F | 72°F | 72°F | 65°F | 55°F | 45°F | 37°F |
McCulloch County next to its neighbours
Concho County, TX, 50 km west, gets 12 nights below 20°F to McCulloch County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCulloch County, TX | - | 44 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
| Concho County, TX | 50 km west | 65 nights | 12 nights | 31°F |
| San Saba County, TX | 52 km east | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Mason County, TX | 57 km south | 50 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Menard County, TX | 59 km southwest | 64 nights | 11 nights | 30°F |
| Brown County, TX | 71 km northeast | 55 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Coleman County, TX | 79 km north | 48 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
McCulloch County within TX
McCulloch County ranks 134 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 1,791 ft, McCulloch County sits 799 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 Brady, TX, 7 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.