Will Pipes Freeze in Tuolumne County, CA? 11 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Tuolumne County
In a normal year Tuolumne County, CA gets 11 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 27% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to April, worst in February.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 91 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 11 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 11 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 11/04, last around 05/02. For 20°F: 12/23 to 02/21.
How cold Tuolumne County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 31°F; the coldest month, February, averages 31°F overnight. 8 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 31°F | 33°F | 36°F | 43°F | 51°F | 59°F | 58°F | 53°F | 45°F | 36°F | 31°F |
Tuolumne County next to its neighbours
Alpine County, CA, 68 km north, gets 58 nights below 20°F to Tuolumne County's 11 nights. Mariposa County, CA, 50 km south, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuolumne County, CA | - | 91 nights | 11 nights | 31°F |
| Mariposa County, CA | 50 km south | 94 nights | 5 nights | 31°F |
| Calaveras County, CA | 55 km west | 35 nights | under 1 night | 36°F |
| Alpine County, CA | 68 km north | 189 nights | 58 nights | 22°F |
| Amador County, CA | 76 km northwest | 31 nights | 1 night | 37°F |
| Madera County, CA | 92 km south | 41 nights | 1 night | 36°F |
| Mono County, CA | 96 km east | 255 nights | 130 nights | 13°F |
Tuolumne County within CA
Tuolumne County ranks 9 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 6,054 ft, Tuolumne County sits 4,756 ft above the state's median county elevation of 1,298 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.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Cherry Valley Dam, CA, 7 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.