Will Pipes Freeze in Ouachita Parish, LA? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Ouachita Parish
In a normal year Ouachita Parish, LA 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 December to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 41 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 11/15, last around 03/08. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/19.
How cold Ouachita Parish nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 37°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 | 39°F | 46°F | 53°F | 62°F | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F | 65°F | 53°F | 43°F | 37°F |
Ouachita Parish next to its neighbours
Jackson Parish, LA, 43 km southwest, gets 3 nights below 20°F to Ouachita Parish's 3 nights. Caldwell Parish, LA, 42 km south, gets 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish, LA | - | 41 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Richland Parish, LA | 39 km east | 36 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
| Caldwell Parish, LA | 42 km south | 38 nights | 2 nights | 37°F |
| Jackson Parish, LA | 43 km southwest | 48 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Union Parish, LA | 44 km northwest | 41 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Lincoln Parish, LA | 50 km west | 46 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Morehouse Parish, LA | 50 km northeast | 52 nights | 4 nights | 34°F |
Ouachita Parish within LA
Ouachita Parish ranks 10 of 64 LA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Claiborne Parish, LA at 5 nights, with a 34°F average winter low. The fewest is Plaquemines Parish, LA: none, winter lows near 49°F. At 83 ft, Ouachita Parish sits close to the state's median county elevation of 70 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 Monroe Regional Airport, LA, 11 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.