Will Pipes Freeze in Wood County, TX? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Wood County
In a normal year Wood County, TX gets 5 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 17% 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 | 46 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 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 5 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 11/23, last around 03/07. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/27.
How cold Wood County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 38°F | 45°F | 52°F | 62°F | 69°F | 72°F | 72°F | 65°F | 54°F | 44°F | 37°F |
Wood County next to its neighbours
Rains County, TX, 40 km west, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Wood County's 5 nights. Smith County, TX, 47 km south, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood County, TX | - | 46 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Rains County, TX | 40 km west | 54 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Upshur County, TX | 42 km east | 48 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Camp County, TX | 43 km northeast | 51 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Hopkins County, TX | 44 km northwest | 48 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Franklin County, TX | 46 km north | 42 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Smith County, TX | 47 km south | 30 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
Wood County within TX
Wood County ranks 132 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 412 ft, Wood County sits 580 ft below 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 Lake Fk Rsvr, TX, 14 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.