Will Pipes Freeze in Hinds County, MS? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Hinds County
In a normal year Hinds 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 18% 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 11/06, last around 03/16. For 20°F: 12/30 to 01/31.
How cold Hinds County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 46°F | 53°F | 62°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 53°F | 42°F | 39°F |
Hinds County next to its neighbours
Madison County, MS, 57 km northeast, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Hinds County's 5 nights. Warren County, MS, 38 km west, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinds County, MS | - | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Warren County, MS | 38 km west | 35 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Copiah County, MS | 45 km south | 35 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
| Rankin County, MS | 49 km east | 40 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Claiborne County, MS | 54 km southwest | 48 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Yazoo County, MS | 56 km north | 42 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Madison County, MS | 57 km northeast | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
Hinds County within MS
Hinds County ranks 41 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 289 ft, Hinds 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 Oakley Experiment Station, MS, 8 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.