Will Pipes Freeze in DeSoto County, MS? 10 nights a Year
Freeze nights in DeSoto County
In a normal year DeSoto County, MS 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 27% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. 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 | 61 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 11/05, last around 03/28. For 20°F: 12/14 to 02/19.
How cold DeSoto County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January: 1 night a year, and none below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 34°F | 42°F | 51°F | 60°F | 68°F | 71°F | 70°F | 63°F | 51°F | 40°F | 34°F |
DeSoto County next to its neighbours
Marshall County, MS, 46 km east, gets 20 nights below 20°F to DeSoto County's 10 nights. Tate County, MS, 25 km south, gets 8 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County, MS | - | 61 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Tate County, MS | 25 km south | 64 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Shelby County, TN | 36 km north | 61 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Tunica County, MS | 43 km southwest | 53 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Crittenden County, AR | 46 km northwest | 57 nights | 8 nights | 32°F |
| Marshall County, MS | 46 km east | 82 nights | 20 nights | 29°F |
| Panola County, MS | 57 km south | 66 nights | 10 nights | 32°F |
DeSoto County within MS
DeSoto County ranks 15 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, DeSoto County sits close to the state's median county elevation of 302 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
Why 20°F is the line for a garage pipe: how cold before pipes freeze.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Hernando, MS, 8 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.