Will Pipes Freeze in Tensas Parish, LA? 2 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Tensas Parish
In a normal year Tensas Parish, LA gets 2 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 10% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs January to January, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 35 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 2 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | none |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 2 nights of risk to none. 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 11/10, last around 03/13. For 20°F: 01/01 to 01/22.
How cold Tensas Parish nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 38°F; the coldest month, January, averages 36°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 46°F | 53°F | 62°F | 69°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 53°F | 43°F | 38°F |
Tensas Parish next to its neighbours
Claiborne County, MS, 40 km east, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Tensas Parish's 2 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensas Parish, LA | - | 35 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Franklin Parish, LA | 35 km northwest | 39 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Madison Parish, LA | 40 km north | 35 nights | 2 nights | 38°F |
| Claiborne County, MS | 40 km east | 48 nights | 4 nights | 36°F |
| Jefferson County, MS | 41 km southeast | 41 nights | 3 nights | 36°F |
| Adams County, MS | 57 km south | 39 nights | 2 nights | 36°F |
| Richland Parish, LA | 60 km northwest | 36 nights | 3 nights | 38°F |
Tensas Parish within LA
Tensas Parish ranks 18 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 70 ft, Tensas 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.
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 St Joseph (3 mi N), LA, 12 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.