Will Pipes Freeze in Tarrant County, TX? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Tarrant County
In a normal year Tarrant 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 14% 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 | 32 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 11/20, last around 03/10. For 20°F: 01/01 to 01/28.
How cold Tarrant County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°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 | 40°F | 47°F | 55°F | 63°F | 72°F | 75°F | 75°F | 68°F | 57°F | 46°F | 38°F |
Tarrant County next to its neighbours
Johnson County, TX, 44 km south, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Tarrant County's 3 nights. Dallas County, TX, 48 km east, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County, TX | - | 32 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Johnson County, TX | 44 km south | 40 nights | 4 nights | 33°F |
| Dallas County, TX | 48 km east | 28 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Parker County, TX | 48 km west | 60 nights | 8 nights | 32°F |
| Denton County, TX | 51 km north | 39 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Wise County, TX | 60 km northwest | 61 nights | 10 nights | 32°F |
| Hood County, TX | 63 km southwest | 59 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
Tarrant County within TX
Tarrant County ranks 146 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 556 ft, Tarrant County sits 437 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 Fort Worth Wsfo, 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.