Will Pipes Freeze in Winkler County, TX? 10 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Winkler County
In a normal year Winkler County, TX gets 10 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 26% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs November to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 73 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 10 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 10 nights of risk to 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 11/11, last around 03/26. For 20°F: 12/12 to 02/06.
How cold Winkler County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 29°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29°F | 33°F | 40°F | 47°F | 58°F | 67°F | 69°F | 68°F | 62°F | 50°F | 37°F | 30°F |
Winkler County next to its neighbours
Ward County, TX, 36 km south, gets 9 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winkler County, TX | - | 73 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Ward County, TX | 36 km south | 67 nights | 9 nights | 29°F |
| Loving County, TX | 48 km west | 71 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Ector County, TX | 49 km east | 53 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Andrews County, TX | 66 km northeast | 60 nights | 7 nights | 31°F |
| Crane County, TX | 70 km southeast | 52 nights | 5 nights | 32°F |
| Reeves County, TX | 85 km southwest | 68 nights | 7 nights | 30°F |
Winkler County within TX
Winkler County ranks 72 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 2,862 ft, Winkler County sits 1,870 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Kermit, TX, 3 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.