Will Pipes Freeze in McMullen County, TX? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in McMullen County
In a normal year McMullen 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 3% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 12 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 12/03, last around 02/13. For 20°F: 12/28 to 12/29.
How cold McMullen County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 45°F; the coldest month, January, averages 43°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43°F | 47°F | 54°F | 60°F | 68°F | 73°F | 74°F | 74°F | 70°F | 62°F | 52°F | 45°F |
McMullen County next to its neighbours
The six closest counties all sit within a night of McMullen County.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMullen County, TX | - | 12 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Live Oak County, TX | 44 km east | 8 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| La Salle County, TX | 51 km west | 13 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Atascosa County, TX | 56 km north | 19 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Frio County, TX | 75 km northwest | 11 nights | under 1 night | 42°F |
| Duval County, TX | 79 km south | 13 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
| Bee County, TX | 82 km east | 9 nights | under 1 night | 44°F |
McMullen County within TX
McMullen County ranks 229 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 369 ft, McMullen County sits 623 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.
A few nights a year catches houses that were never built for it: pipes 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 Tilden (4 mi SSE), TX, 6 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.