Will Pipes Freeze in Rains County, TX? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Rains County
In a normal year Rains County, TX gets 6 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 19% 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 | 54 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/12, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 12/25 to 02/04.
How cold Rains County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 44°F | 51°F | 60°F | 68°F | 72°F | 70°F | 64°F | 53°F | 43°F | 35°F |
Rains County next to its neighbours
Hunt County, TX, 39 km northwest, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Rains County's 6 nights. Van Zandt County, TX, 35 km south, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rains County, TX | - | 54 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Van Zandt County, TX | 35 km south | 45 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Hopkins County, TX | 38 km northeast | 48 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Hunt County, TX | 39 km northwest | 50 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Wood County, TX | 40 km east | 46 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Kaufman County, TX | 55 km southwest | 45 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Rockwall County, TX | 58 km west | 40 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
Rains County within TX
Rains County ranks 116 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 490 ft, Rains County sits 503 ft below 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 Emory, TX, 2 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.