Will Pipes Freeze in Lowndes County, MS? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Lowndes County
In a normal year Lowndes 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 17% 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 | 51 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 11/12, last around 03/13. For 20°F: 01/02 to 01/27.
How cold Lowndes 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, 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 | 73°F | 72°F | 66°F | 54°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Lowndes County next to its neighbours
Pickens County, AL, 37 km southeast, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Lowndes County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowndes County, MS | - | 51 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Pickens County, AL | 37 km southeast | 58 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Clay County, MS | 38 km northwest | 62 nights | 9 nights | 32°F |
| Oktibbeha County, MS | 41 km west | 60 nights | 8 nights | 33°F |
| Noxubee County, MS | 42 km south | 58 nights | 7 nights | 33°F |
| Monroe County, MS | 47 km north | 60 nights | 8 nights | 31°F |
| Lamar County, AL | 48 km northeast | 66 nights | 10 nights | 33°F |
Lowndes County within MS
Lowndes County ranks 44 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 159 ft, Lowndes County sits 143 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.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Columbus, MS, 5 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.