Will Pipes Freeze in Upshur County, TX? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Upshur County
In a normal year Upshur County, TX gets 4 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 16% 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 | 4 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 4 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 11/08, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/21 to 02/01.
How cold Upshur County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, 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 | 37°F | 44°F | 51°F | 61°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 64°F | 53°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Upshur County next to its neighbours
Camp County, TX, 27 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Upshur County's 4 nights. Gregg County, TX, 30 km southeast, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upshur County, TX | - | 48 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Camp County, TX | 27 km north | 51 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Gregg County, TX | 30 km southeast | 41 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Wood County, TX | 42 km west | 46 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Morris County, TX | 47 km northeast | 46 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Smith County, TX | 50 km southwest | 30 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Titus County, TX | 53 km north | 59 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
Upshur County within TX
Upshur County ranks 140 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 342 ft, Upshur County sits 651 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 Gilmer (4 mi WNW), TX, 10 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.