Will Pipes Freeze in Santa Cruz County, AZ? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Santa Cruz County
In a normal year Santa Cruz County, AZ 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 11% 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 | 48 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 3 nights of risk to none. 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 11/17, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/13.
How cold Santa Cruz County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, December, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 36°F | 40°F | 44°F | 52°F | 62°F | 67°F | 66°F | 61°F | 50°F | 40°F | 34°F |
Santa Cruz County next to its neighbours
Cochise County, AZ, 107 km east, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Santa Cruz County's 3 nights. Pinal County, AZ, 162 km north, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County, AZ | - | 48 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Cochise County, AZ | 107 km east | 73 nights | 7 nights | 30°F |
| Pima County, AZ | 111 km northwest | 36 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Pinal County, AZ | 162 km north | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Graham County, AZ | 181 km northeast | 75 nights | 9 nights | 29°F |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 202 km east | 76 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 243 km northeast | 156 nights | 50 nights | 21°F |
Santa Cruz County within AZ
Santa Cruz County ranks 9 of 15 AZ counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Coconino County, AZ at 67 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Maricopa County, AZ: none, winter lows near 43°F. At 4,072 ft, Santa Cruz County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 4,072 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 Nogales International Airport, AZ, 12 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.