Will Pipes Freeze in Wheeler County, OR? 34 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wheeler County
In a normal year Wheeler County, OR gets 34 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 50% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs October to April, worst in December.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 147 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 34 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 9 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | 2 nights |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 34 nights of risk to 9 nights. 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 10/04, last around 05/22. For 20°F: 11/17 to 03/17.
How cold Wheeler County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, December, averages 24°F overnight. 11 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, November, December: 9 nights a year, and 2 nights below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 25°F | 29°F | 32°F | 38°F | 43°F | 49°F | 48°F | 42°F | 35°F | 29°F | 24°F |
Wheeler County next to its neighbours
Crook County, OR, 69 km southwest, gets 60 nights below 20°F to Wheeler County's 34 nights. Gilliam County, OR, 75 km north, gets 23 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler County, OR | - | 147 nights | 34 nights | 25°F |
| Crook County, OR | 69 km southwest | 186 nights | 60 nights | 23°F |
| Gilliam County, OR | 75 km north | 127 nights | 23 nights | 26°F |
| Morrow County, OR | 84 km northeast | 107 nights | 18 nights | 28°F |
| Grant County, OR | 84 km east | 178 nights | 53 nights | 21°F |
| Sherman County, OR | 90 km northwest | 130 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Jefferson County, OR | 92 km west | 144 nights | 28 nights | 24°F |
Wheeler County within OR
Wheeler County ranks 10 of 36 OR counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Baker County, OR at 76 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Lincoln County, OR: under 1 night, winter lows near 40°F. At 3,767 ft, Wheeler County sits 1,750 ft above the state's median county elevation of 2,017 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.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Mitchell (2 mi E), OR, 20 km away (fair 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.