Will Pipes Freeze in Washington County, MS? 4 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Washington County
In a normal year Washington 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 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 | 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 11/15, last around 03/13. For 20°F: 01/02 to 01/31.
How cold Washington County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 36°F; the coldest month, January, averages 35°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 38°F | 45°F | 53°F | 63°F | 70°F | 73°F | 71°F | 65°F | 53°F | 43°F | 37°F |
Washington County next to its neighbours
Bolivar County, MS, 59 km north, gets 5 nights below 20°F to Washington County's 4 nights. Sharkey County, MS, 44 km south, gets 3 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, MS | - | 42 nights | 4 nights | 35°F |
| Chicot County, AR | 33 km west | 46 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Humphreys County, MS | 42 km east | 39 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Sharkey County, MS | 44 km south | 42 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Sunflower County, MS | 49 km northeast | 44 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
| Issaquena County, MS | 58 km south | 38 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Bolivar County, MS | 59 km north | 50 nights | 5 nights | 33°F |
Washington County within MS
Washington County ranks 55 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 109 ft, Washington County sits 193 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 Greenville, MS, 14 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.