Will Pipes Freeze in Bolivar County, MS? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Bolivar County
In a normal year Bolivar County, MS 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 16% 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 | 50 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 11/15, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/31.
How cold Bolivar County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 44°F | 52°F | 62°F | 70°F | 72°F | 71°F | 64°F | 53°F | 42°F | 36°F |
Bolivar County next to its neighbours
Coahoma County, MS, 54 km northeast, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Bolivar County's 5 nights. Sunflower County, MS, 34 km southeast, gets 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar County, MS | - | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Desha County, AR | 33 km west | 47 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Sunflower County, MS | 34 km southeast | 44 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Coahoma County, MS | 54 km northeast | 52 nights | 6 nights | 32°F |
| Washington County, MS | 59 km south | 42 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Leflore County, MS | 61 km southeast | 44 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Tallahatchie County, MS | 68 km east | 54 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
Bolivar County within MS
Bolivar County ranks 45 of 82 MS counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Tishomingo County, MS at 24 nights, with a 30°F average winter low. The fewest is Harrison County, MS: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 137 ft, Bolivar County sits 164 ft below the state's median county elevation of 302 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 Cleveland, MS, 15 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. How a county figure is built from stations: how the numbers are made.