Will Pipes Freeze in Jones County, MS? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Jones County
In a normal year Jones 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 12% 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 | 41 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 03/12. For 20°F: 01/01 to 01/27.
How cold Jones County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 38°F | 45°F | 52°F | 61°F | 68°F | 70°F | 70°F | 65°F | 53°F | 42°F | 37°F |
Jones County next to its neighbours
Jasper County, MS, 45 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Jones County's 3 nights. Forrest County, MS, 48 km south, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County, MS | - | 41 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Covington County, MS | 36 km west | 41 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Jasper County, MS | 45 km north | 55 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Wayne County, MS | 47 km east | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Forrest County, MS | 48 km south | 34 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Perry County, MS | 53 km south | 47 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Smith County, MS | 54 km northwest | 59 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
Jones County within MS
Jones County ranks 67 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 196 ft, Jones County sits 106 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 Laurel, 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.