Will Pipes Freeze in Sunflower County, MS? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Sunflower County
In a normal year Sunflower County, MS gets 4 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 15% 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 | 44 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 4 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 4 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 03/08. For 20°F: 01/06 to 01/27.
How cold Sunflower County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 34°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34°F | 37°F | 45°F | 53°F | 63°F | 70°F | 73°F | 72°F | 65°F | 54°F | 43°F | 37°F |
Sunflower County next to its neighbours
Bolivar County, MS, 34 km northwest, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Sunflower County's 4 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower County, MS | - | 44 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Leflore County, MS | 28 km east | 44 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Bolivar County, MS | 34 km northwest | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
| Washington County, MS | 49 km southwest | 42 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Humphreys County, MS | 53 km south | 39 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Tallahatchie County, MS | 55 km northeast | 54 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
| Desha County, AR | 65 km northwest | 47 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
Sunflower County within MS
Sunflower County ranks 53 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 126 ft, Sunflower County sits 176 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.
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 Moorhead, MS, 19 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.