Will Pipes Freeze in Wichita County, TX? 9 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wichita County
In a normal year Wichita County, TX gets 9 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 24% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 62 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 9 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 9 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 11/09, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/13 to 02/15.
How cold Wichita County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 32°F; the coldest month, January, averages 30°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30°F | 34°F | 42°F | 50°F | 60°F | 69°F | 72°F | 72°F | 64°F | 52°F | 40°F | 32°F |
Wichita County next to its neighbours
Cotton County, OK, 46 km northeast, gets 13 nights below 20°F to Wichita County's 9 nights. Archer County, TX, 41 km south, gets 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita County, TX | - | 62 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Archer County, TX | 41 km south | 57 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Cotton County, OK | 46 km northeast | 73 nights | 13 nights | 28°F |
| Tillman County, OK | 47 km northwest | 67 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Wilbarger County, TX | 50 km west | 71 nights | 11 nights | 29°F |
| Clay County, TX | 51 km southeast | 70 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Baylor County, TX | 62 km southwest | 67 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
Wichita County within TX
Wichita County ranks 79 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 1,035 ft, Wichita County sits close to 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 Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, TX, 20 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.