Will Pipes Freeze in Tehama County, CA? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Tehama County
In a normal year Tehama County, CA gets under 1 night at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 3% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 19 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | under 1 night |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 11/29, last around 02/22.
How cold Tehama County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 39°F; the coldest month, December, averages 38°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 41°F | 44°F | 47°F | 55°F | 62°F | 66°F | 64°F | 59°F | 51°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Tehama County next to its neighbours
Glenn County, CA, 60 km south, gets 1 night below 20°F to Tehama County's under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tehama County, CA | - | 19 nights | under 1 night | 38°F |
| Glenn County, CA | 60 km south | 52 nights | 1 night | 35°F |
| Shasta County, CA | 72 km north | 17 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Butte County, CA | 74 km southeast | 22 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Trinity County, CA | 95 km northwest | 84 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Colusa County, CA | 105 km south | 17 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Plumas County, CA | 121 km east | 166 nights | 35 nights | 24°F |
Tehama County within CA
Tehama County ranks 35 of 58 CA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Mono County, CA at 130 nights, with a 13°F average winter low. The fewest is Orange County, CA: none, winter lows near 46°F. At 318 ft, Tehama County sits 980 ft below the state's median county elevation of 1,298 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 Red Bluff Municipal Airport, CA, 3 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.