Will Pipes Freeze in Sabine County, TX? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sabine County
In a normal year Sabine County, TX gets 2 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 9% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 33 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 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 2 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 11/13, last around 03/18. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/26.
How cold Sabine County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 39°F; the coldest month, January, averages 37°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37°F | 41°F | 47°F | 53°F | 62°F | 69°F | 71°F | 71°F | 66°F | 55°F | 45°F | 39°F |
Sabine County next to its neighbours
Shelby County, TX, 57 km northwest, gets 3 nights below 20°F to Sabine County's 2 nights. Newton County, TX, 63 km south, gets 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabine County, TX | - | 33 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| San Augustine County, TX | 30 km west | 37 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Sabine Parish, LA | 37 km northeast | 37 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Shelby County, TX | 57 km northwest | 42 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Newton County, TX | 63 km south | 28 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
| Jasper County, TX | 68 km south | 29 nights | 1 night | 38°F |
| Vernon Parish, LA | 69 km southeast | 34 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
Sabine County within TX
Sabine County ranks 180 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 261 ft, Sabine County sits 731 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.
Why rare cold catches people out - freezes 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 San Augustine, TX, 32 km away (fair match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.