Will Pipes Freeze in Stone County, MS? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Stone County
In a normal year Stone 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 12% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 38 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 11/18, last around 03/14. For 20°F: 01/06 to 01/29.
How cold Stone County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 40°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 | 41°F | 47°F | 53°F | 61°F | 68°F | 71°F | 71°F | 66°F | 55°F | 45°F | 40°F |
Stone County next to its neighbours
Perry County, MS, 44 km north, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Stone County's 3 nights. Harrison County, MS, 42 km south, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone County, MS | - | 38 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Harrison County, MS | 42 km south | 16 nights | under 1 night | 43°F |
| Perry County, MS | 44 km north | 47 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Pearl River County, MS | 45 km west | 27 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| George County, MS | 45 km east | 28 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Forrest County, MS | 46 km north | 34 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Hancock County, MS | 57 km southwest | 26 nights | 1 night | 40°F |
Stone County within MS
Stone County ranks 66 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 112 ft, Stone County sits 190 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.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Wiggins, MS, 9 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.