Will Pipes Freeze in Clarke County, MS? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Clarke County
In a normal year Clarke County, MS gets 4 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 15% 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 | 45 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 11/16, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 01/01 to 01/30.
How cold Clarke County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 45°F | 52°F | 61°F | 69°F | 71°F | 71°F | 65°F | 53°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Clarke County next to its neighbours
Jasper County, MS, 41 km west, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Clarke County's 4 nights. Jones County, MS, 66 km southwest, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County, MS | - | 45 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Lauderdale County, MS | 40 km north | 48 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Jasper County, MS | 41 km west | 55 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Choctaw County, AL | 42 km east | 46 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Wayne County, MS | 45 km south | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Newton County, MS | 57 km northwest | 59 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Jones County, MS | 66 km southwest | 41 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
Clarke County within MS
Clarke County ranks 56 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 302 ft, Clarke County sits close to 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is P Harrison Archusa, MS, 2 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.