Will Pipes Freeze in Pecos County, TX? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Pecos County
In a normal year Pecos County, TX gets 3 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 12% 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 | 36 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 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 3 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 11/20, last around 03/08. For 20°F: 01/02 to 01/22.
How cold Pecos County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 46°F | 53°F | 62°F | 69°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 55°F | 43°F | 37°F |
Pecos County next to its neighbours
Crane County, TX, 75 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Pecos County's 3 nights. Brewster County, TX, 119 km southwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pecos County, TX | - | 36 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Crane County, TX | 75 km north | 52 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Terrell County, TX | 86 km southeast | 32 nights | 2 nights | 35°F |
| Ward County, TX | 90 km northwest | 67 nights | 9 nights | 29°F |
| Upton County, TX | 91 km northeast | 48 nights | 4 nights | 32°F |
| Reeves County, TX | 112 km northwest | 68 nights | 7 nights | 30°F |
| Brewster County, TX | 119 km southwest | 37 nights | 2 nights | 34°F |
Pecos County within TX
Pecos County ranks 159 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 3,049 ft, Pecos County sits 2,057 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 Fort Stockton, TX, 24 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.