Will Pipes Freeze in Upton County, TX? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Upton County
In a normal year Upton 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 15% 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 11/16, last around 03/16. For 20°F: 12/19 to 02/04.
How cold Upton County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 34°F; the coldest month, January, averages 32°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 36°F | 45°F | 53°F | 62°F | 71°F | 73°F | 72°F | 65°F | 55°F | 42°F | 33°F |
Upton County next to its neighbours
Crane County, TX, 43 km west, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Upton County's 4 nights. Pecos County, TX, 91 km southwest, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upton County, TX | - | 48 nights | 4 nights | 32°F |
| Crane County, TX | 43 km west | 52 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Reagan County, TX | 50 km east | 65 nights | 9 nights | 31°F |
| Midland County, TX | 51 km north | 54 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Ector County, TX | 74 km northwest | 53 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Glasscock County, TX | 75 km northeast | 73 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Pecos County, TX | 91 km southwest | 36 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Upton County within TX
Upton County ranks 143 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 2,707 ft, Upton County sits 1,715 ft above 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Crane, TX, 31 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.