Will Pipes Freeze in Mitchell County, TX? 11 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Mitchell County
In a normal year Mitchell County, TX gets 11 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 27% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 75 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 11 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 11 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 11/05, last around 04/04. For 20°F: 12/04 to 02/23.
How cold Mitchell County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 28°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°F | 31°F | 41°F | 47°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 69°F | 62°F | 50°F | 38°F | 29°F |
Mitchell County next to its neighbours
Sterling County, TX, 54 km south, gets 12 nights below 20°F to Mitchell County's 11 nights. Howard County, TX, 48 km west, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell County, TX | - | 75 nights | 11 nights | 28°F |
| Nolan County, TX | 48 km east | 62 nights | 11 nights | 31°F |
| Howard County, TX | 48 km west | 55 nights | 5 nights | 31°F |
| Scurry County, TX | 49 km north | 71 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Sterling County, TX | 54 km south | 72 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Coke County, TX | 55 km southeast | 66 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| Borden County, TX | 68 km northwest | 56 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
Mitchell County within TX
Mitchell County ranks 60 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 2,078 ft, Mitchell County sits 1,085 ft above the state's median county elevation of 992 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Colorado City, TX, 12 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.