Will Pipes Freeze in Franklin County, MS? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Franklin County
In a normal year Franklin County, MS gets 3 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 11% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 43 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 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 3 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 11/12, last around 03/15. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/27.
How cold Franklin 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, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 46°F | 52°F | 61°F | 69°F | 71°F | 70°F | 65°F | 54°F | 44°F | 39°F |
Franklin County next to its neighbours
Amite County, MS, 32 km south, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Franklin County's 3 nights. Wilkinson County, MS, 54 km southwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, MS | - | 43 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Jefferson County, MS | 32 km northwest | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Amite County, MS | 32 km south | 46 nights | 4 nights | 37°F |
| Lincoln County, MS | 42 km east | 47 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Adams County, MS | 43 km west | 39 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Wilkinson County, MS | 54 km southwest | 30 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Claiborne County, MS | 55 km north | 48 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
Franklin County within MS
Franklin County ranks 70 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 283 ft, Franklin 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.
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 Meadville, 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.