Will Pipes Freeze in Leake County, MS? 8 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Leake County
In a normal year Leake County, MS gets 8 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 23% 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 | 64 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 8 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 8 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 11/07, last around 03/19. For 20°F: 12/31 to 01/31.
How cold Leake County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 44°F | 51°F | 59°F | 67°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 51°F | 41°F | 35°F |
Leake County next to its neighbours
Attala County, MS, 37 km north, gets 7 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leake County, MS | - | 64 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Attala County, MS | 37 km north | 59 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Neshoba County, MS | 38 km east | 49 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
| Scott County, MS | 39 km south | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Madison County, MS | 50 km west | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Newton County, MS | 55 km southeast | 59 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Winston County, MS | 57 km northeast | 53 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
Leake County within MS
Leake County ranks 23 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 390 ft, Leake County sits 88 ft above 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 Carthage, 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.