Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, TX? under 1 night a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington County, TX 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 6% of US counties.
Risk level: Rare. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 20 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 |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from under 1 night 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 11/30, last around 03/02. For 20°F: 01/08 to 01/14.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 41°F; the coldest month, January, averages 39°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 43°F | 49°F | 56°F | 65°F | 71°F | 73°F | 73°F | 68°F | 58°F | 48°F | 41°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Burleson County, TX, 37 km northwest, gets 2 nights below 20°F to Washington County's under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, TX | - | 20 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Burleson County, TX | 37 km northwest | 29 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Austin County, TX | 38 km south | 13 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Waller County, TX | 47 km southeast | 17 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Brazos County, TX | 50 km north | 18 nights | under 1 night | 41°F |
| Grimes County, TX | 55 km northeast | 23 nights | 1 night | 40°F |
| Lee County, TX | 56 km west | 27 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
Washington County within TX
Washington County ranks 201 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 285 ft, Washington County sits 707 ft below the state's median county elevation of 992 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 Brenham, TX, 6 km away (close 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.