Will Pipes Freeze in Smith County, MS? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Smith County
In a normal year Smith County, MS gets 6 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 20% 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 | 59 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 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 6 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 11/03, last around 03/28. For 20°F: 12/24 to 02/03.
How cold Smith County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 43°F | 50°F | 59°F | 66°F | 69°F | 68°F | 62°F | 50°F | 40°F | 36°F |
Smith County next to its neighbours
Scott County, MS, 44 km north, gets 7 nights below 20°F to Smith County's 6 nights. Jasper County, MS, 35 km east, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County, MS | - | 59 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Jasper County, MS | 35 km east | 55 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Simpson County, MS | 42 km west | 58 nights | 6 nights | 37°F |
| Covington County, MS | 43 km south | 41 nights | 3 nights | 34°F |
| Scott County, MS | 44 km north | 57 nights | 7 nights | 34°F |
| Rankin County, MS | 51 km northwest | 40 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Jones County, MS | 54 km southeast | 41 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
Smith County within MS
Smith County ranks 36 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 395 ft, Smith County sits 94 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.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Raleigh (6 mi N), MS, 15 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.