Will Pipes Freeze in Sharkey County, MS? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sharkey County
In a normal year Sharkey 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 | 42 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 11/20, last around 03/05. For 20°F: 01/06 to 01/22.
How cold Sharkey 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 | 55°F | 64°F | 71°F | 74°F | 73°F | 67°F | 55°F | 45°F | 39°F |
Sharkey County next to its neighbours
Washington County, MS, 44 km north, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Sharkey County's 3 nights. East Carroll Parish, LA, 42 km southwest, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharkey County, MS | - | 42 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Issaquena County, MS | 22 km southwest | 38 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Humphreys County, MS | 39 km northeast | 39 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| East Carroll Parish, LA | 42 km southwest | 34 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Yazoo County, MS | 43 km east | 42 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Washington County, MS | 44 km north | 42 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| West Carroll Parish, LA | 59 km west | 37 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
Sharkey County within MS
Sharkey County ranks 60 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 95 ft, Sharkey County sits 207 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 Rolling Fork, MS, 5 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.