Will Pipes Freeze in New Madrid County, MO? 16 nights a Year
Freeze nights in New Madrid County
In a normal year New Madrid County, MO gets 16 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 33% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 72 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 16 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 3 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 16 nights of risk to 3 nights. 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 11/03, last around 03/28. For 20°F: 12/11 to 02/24.
How cold New Madrid County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 30°F; the coldest month, January, averages 28°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 3 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28°F | 31°F | 39°F | 49°F | 59°F | 68°F | 71°F | 68°F | 61°F | 49°F | 39°F | 31°F |
New Madrid County next to its neighbours
Lake County, TN, 33 km southeast, gets 17 nights below 20°F to New Madrid County's 16 nights. Pemiscot County, MO, 44 km south, gets 14 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Madrid County, MO | - | 72 nights | 16 nights | 28°F |
| Lake County, TN | 33 km southeast | 77 nights | 17 nights | 28°F |
| Stoddard County, MO | 39 km northwest | 89 nights | 22 nights | 25°F |
| Mississippi County, MO | 41 km northeast | 81 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Fulton County, KY | 42 km east | 86 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
| Pemiscot County, MO | 44 km south | 73 nights | 14 nights | 29°F |
| Scott County, MO | 51 km north | 84 nights | 20 nights | 27°F |
New Madrid County within MO
New Madrid County ranks 114 of 115 MO counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Caldwell County, MO at 65 nights, with a 19°F average winter low. The fewest is Pemiscot County, MO: 14 nights, winter lows near 31°F. At 278 ft, New Madrid County sits 564 ft below the state's median county elevation of 842 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
When to have the house ready: when freeze season starts.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is New Madrid, MO, 11 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.