Will Pipes Freeze in Palo Pinto County, TX? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Palo Pinto County
In a normal year Palo Pinto County, TX gets 7 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 21% 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 | 56 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 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 7 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 11/10, last around 03/23. For 20°F: 12/16 to 02/09.
How cold Palo Pinto County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 35°F | 44°F | 52°F | 61°F | 70°F | 73°F | 72°F | 64°F | 53°F | 42°F | 33°F |
Palo Pinto County next to its neighbours
Parker County, TX, 48 km east, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Palo Pinto County's 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Pinto County, TX | - | 56 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Parker County, TX | 48 km east | 60 nights | 8 nights | 32°F |
| Stephens County, TX | 49 km west | 70 nights | 13 nights | 28°F |
| Jack County, TX | 55 km north | 56 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Young County, TX | 56 km northwest | 69 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Hood County, TX | 58 km southeast | 59 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Erath County, TX | 58 km south | 54 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
Palo Pinto County within TX
Palo Pinto County ranks 100 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 1,163 ft, Palo Pinto County sits 171 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 Lake Palo Pinto, 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.