Will Pipes Freeze in Madison County, MS? 7 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Madison County
In a normal year Madison County, MS gets 7 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 21% 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 | 57 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 7 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 7 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 03/22. For 20°F: 12/24 to 02/04.
How cold Madison County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 36°F | 44°F | 51°F | 60°F | 67°F | 70°F | 69°F | 63°F | 51°F | 41°F | 35°F |
Madison County next to its neighbours
Leake County, MS, 50 km east, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Madison County's 7 nights. Yazoo County, MS, 36 km northwest, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County, MS | - | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Yazoo County, MS | 36 km northwest | 42 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Rankin County, MS | 42 km south | 40 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Leake County, MS | 50 km east | 64 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Scott County, MS | 53 km southeast | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Holmes County, MS | 55 km north | 60 nights | 10 nights | 31°F |
| Hinds County, MS | 57 km southwest | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
Madison County within MS
Madison County ranks 33 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 248 ft, Madison County sits 54 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 Canton (4 mi N), MS, 4 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.