


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
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308 FXUS64 KLCH 041133 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 633 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Maximum heat indices top out in the 100 to 105F range through the weekend. Gradual increase in heat next work week. - Weakness aloft may bring about scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms during the holiday afternoon and evening. - No tropical impacts are expected to the CWA over the next 7 days. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Sunday night) Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 The big topic... will Fourth of July celebrations be rained / stormed out? Guidance up to this evening painted a scenario very similar to today: scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across the area Friday afternoon and evening. However now, it looks like only scattered showers through the morning and afternoon before everything clears out in the early evening. Not sure what has caused this sharp turn in guidance. Perhaps models now hold onto the ridge a bit longer today causing storm suppression. I`m not ready to bite on the scenario that things remain dry. Shortwave moving across north central Texas, falling heights and pooling moisture should all be in place today which give indication of at least scattered convection during the afternoon and early evening. It`s best to prepare for thunder when a largely-outdoor holiday is about to unfold, then celebrate if the drier outcome reigns supreme. Further increases in PoPs are expected Saturday and Sunday with low pressure moving over the northeast Gulf and weakness developing aloft. Expect at least scattered rain chances both of these days. The good thing? Cloud cover keeping high temps in check. Highs should top out in the lower/mid 90s today, then mid 90s Sat and Sun. Maximum Heat Indices will range in the 100 to 105F through the short term period. 11/Calhoun && .LONG TERM... (Monday through next Thursday) Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 Upper level weakness meandering over the region Monday into the early work week will allow for a return to the Summertime Special: hot, humid and daily pop-up showers/storms / seabreeze activity. Temperatures appear to hold in check in the mid 90s, close to climo normals, for Monday thru Wednesday. Later in the period, high pressure attempts to ridge over the western Gulf/southeast Texas. This shutoff of cloud cover and waning rain chances would result in highs nudging back into the mid to upper 90s. Heat indices appear to remain in the 100 to 105F range on Monday. However, as high pressure attempts to build in, we could see a gradual increase in maximum HIs to widespread 105F and above by Tuesday. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 631 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 In the near term some patchy fog with MVFR conditions will be possible at KAEX through about 04/14z, otherwise VFR elsewhere. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon with daytime heating. Will mention VCTS at all terminals after 04/18z. Away from storms, VFR conditions with light winds. Convection, if it develops, is expected to dissipate by 05/01z. Rua && .MARINE... Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 High pressure area situated over the northern Gulf, while weak and meandering at times, will result in light, variable winds and low seas through the start of next week. During the same time frame, expansive low over the Florida peninsula expands into the northeast Gulf. This feature will result in general weakness aloft and a return to typical summertime pattern of onshore flow and low seas. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 Weakness developing overhead will bring about the return of scattered showers and thunderstorms from today through the start of next work week. Moisture has worked down from aloft, degrading the dry airmass recently in place. Outside of thunderstorm activity, minimum RH values in the 50 to 60 percent range can be expected today with overall light flow. Weak ridging moves overhead Saturday and Sunday resulting in daytime RH minimums in the 40 to 50 percent range and only scattered chances for thunderstorms. Warmth and typical summertime pattern return for much of the week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 93 73 96 73 / 30 10 10 0 LCH 92 75 95 75 / 20 10 30 10 LFT 90 75 94 75 / 40 10 40 10 BPT 93 75 94 74 / 20 10 20 10 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...07