FrostList

When to Winterize Your Boat in Southaven, MS

ON TRACK140 days until first 28°F freezeNov 28

Freeze protection for a Southaven boat keys off the first 28°F freeze, which averages November 28, so haul out and winterize by November 21 to beat it. Cold deepens quickly here — only about 12 days separate the first frost from that hard freeze.

OUTLOOK

Typical first first 28°F freeze near Nov 28; local deadline about Nov 21. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Southaven

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Nov 2Nov 16Dec 3
28°F (hard freeze)Nov 10Nov 28Dec 18
24°F (severe)Nov 19Dec 13Jan 8

NOAA station: Memphis Intl AP · 4.9 mi away · 254 ft elevation.

Southaven draws its numbers from Memphis Intl AP, 254 feet up and 4.9 miles away. Its median first-freeze dates are 32°F by Nov 16, 28°F by Nov 28, 24°F by Dec 13. Year to year the 28°F date has ranged from Nov 10 to Dec 18 — about 38 days apart. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Mar 16. Snowfall averages 3 inches a year.

In Southaven, freezing nights (32°F) typically begin around Nov 16 and the first hard freeze (28°F) follows near Nov 28. That first freezing night has ranged from Nov 2 to Dec 3, roughly a 31-day spread. On the spring side, the last 32°F freeze clears around Mar 16 and as late as Apr 4 — the green light for reopening water and de-winterizing. With almost no snow in a normal year, cold — not plowing — sets the calendar, and it centers on Mar 16.

Your boat checklist

  1. Change the engine oil and filter while the motor is warm so contaminants leave with the old oil.
  2. Run the engine on antifreeze until pink fluid reaches the outlet, protecting the block and manifolds.
    Helpful gear: Marine antifreeze — Recommended pick
  3. Fog the cylinders with fogging oil as the engine runs down to coat internal parts against corrosion.
    Helpful gear: Fogging oil — Recommended pick
  4. Top off the fuel tank and add stabilizer to limit condensation and protect ethanol-blend fuel.
    Helpful gear: Marine fuel stabilizer — Recommended pick
  5. Drain the raw-water system, the livewell, and any washdown lines that can trap water.
  6. Remove the battery, charge it fully, and keep it on a maintainer over the layup.
    Helpful gear: Battery maintainer — Recommended pick
  7. Support the cover so snow and rain shed off, and leave vents so the interior can breathe.
  8. For an inboard or sterndrive, follow the manual closely — those blocks are the ones freeze claims hit hardest.

What to have on hand

Marine antifreeze
Propylene-glycol fluid rated for engine blocks and systems.
Recommended pick
Marine fuel stabilizer
Additive that protects ethanol-blend fuel over the layup.
Recommended pick
Fogging oil
Spray that coats cylinders against corrosion in storage.
Recommended pick
Battery maintainer
Keeps the cranking battery topped off on the trailer.
Recommended pick

What this means locally

Compared with nearby cities, Southaven's first-freeze date near Nov 28 sits close to Memphis (Nov 28) and later than Germantown (Nov 17). Mississippi's deadlines span Nov 20 to Dec 26 statewide — one date for all of Mississippi would be off by weeks for Southaven. Once you know Southaven's freeze date, use it to winterize an RV and store a motorcycle too.

Other winter jobs in Southaven

Every task below is dated to Southaven's own freeze and snow normals.

Sprinklers → Nov 18Frozen pipes → Nov 2Car battery → Nov 28Sump pump → Mar 16RV → Nov 18Motorcycle → Nov 16

See the full Southaven winter checklist, in order →

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature does a boat engine block crack?
Trapped water in an engine block or manifold can freeze and crack the casting once temperatures fall below 32°F and stay there long enough. Inboard and sterndrive blocks hold the most water and are the most vulnerable. Draining fully and adding antifreeze before the first hard freeze near Nov 28 is the protection.
Do outboards need winterizing?
Yes. An outboard should be drained so no water sits in the powerhead or lower unit, and the fuel system stabilized. Outboards self-drain better than inboards when tilted down, but fogging the cylinders and changing the gear oil are still part of a proper layup.
Fogging oil: is it necessary?
Fogging coats the cylinder walls and internal parts with a film that resists corrosion during months of storage. On engines that sit all winter it is cheap insurance against rust, especially in humid or coastal storage. Follow your engine maker's guidance on how to apply it.
How much does boat winterization cost?
A professional winterization varies with engine type and boat size, and inboards cost more than a simple outboard. Doing it yourself costs mainly antifreeze, oil, and fogging oil. Either way, the bill is far smaller than repairing a cracked block, which is the failure winterizing prevents.
Do boats in MS really need winterizing?
If temperatures reach freezing where the boat is stored, yes. Freeze claims are common in milder states precisely because owners assume they are safe and skip the step, then a rare cold snap cracks a block. Check the local freeze dates above and protect the engine before the first hard freeze.
When should I de-winterize my boat?
De-winterize in spring once the risk of a hard freeze has passed for your area. Reconnect and charge the battery, replace drain plugs, check hoses and clamps, and inspect the fuel system before the first launch. Reopening too early leaves the block exposed to a late cold snap.

Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals via Memphis Intl AP, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.