Will Pipes Freeze in Sterling County, TX? 12 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sterling County
In a normal year Sterling County, TX gets 12 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 29% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 72 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 12 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 12 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 11/06, last around 03/31. For 20°F: 12/07 to 02/13.
How cold Sterling County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 33°F | 41°F | 50°F | 61°F | 68°F | 71°F | 70°F | 62°F | 51°F | 39°F | 31°F |
Sterling County next to its neighbours
Irion County, TX, 60 km south, gets 13 nights below 20°F to Sterling County's 12 nights. Coke County, TX, 40 km east, gets 10 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling County, TX | - | 72 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Coke County, TX | 40 km east | 66 nights | 10 nights | 30°F |
| Glasscock County, TX | 44 km west | 73 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Mitchell County, TX | 54 km north | 75 nights | 11 nights | 28°F |
| Irion County, TX | 60 km south | 75 nights | 13 nights | 29°F |
| Howard County, TX | 63 km northwest | 55 nights | 5 nights | 31°F |
| Reagan County, TX | 67 km southwest | 65 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
Sterling County within TX
Sterling County ranks 50 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 2,329 ft, Sterling County sits 1,336 ft above the state's median county elevation of 992 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Sterling City, TX, 7 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.