Will Pipes Freeze in Rankin County, MS? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Rankin County
In a normal year Rankin 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 13% 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 | 40 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 11/14, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 01/05 to 01/27.
How cold Rankin County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 39°F; the coldest month, January, averages 37°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37°F | 40°F | 47°F | 54°F | 63°F | 70°F | 73°F | 72°F | 67°F | 55°F | 44°F | 39°F |
Rankin County next to its neighbours
Simpson County, MS, 41 km south, gets 6 nights below 20°F to Rankin County's 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rankin County, MS | - | 40 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Simpson County, MS | 41 km south | 58 nights | 6 nights | 37°F |
| Madison County, MS | 42 km north | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Scott County, MS | 42 km northeast | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Hinds County, MS | 49 km west | 50 nights | 5 nights | 36°F |
| Smith County, MS | 51 km southeast | 59 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Copiah County, MS | 65 km southwest | 35 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
Rankin County within MS
Rankin County ranks 61 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 384 ft, Rankin County sits 82 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.
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 Jackson International Airport, MS, 14 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.