Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
497 FXUS64 KLCH 181105 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 605 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Drier air will remain across the region through Saturday, which will keep heat indices below advisory criteria. High temps will still range 5 to 10 degrees above climatological norms for the end of summer. - Precipitation chances slightly increase Sunday into early next week, as an area of low pressure moves across the northeastern Gulf. && .DISCUSSION... (Tonight through next Thursday) Issued at 1146 PM CDT Thu Sep 17 2026 An upper ridge is centered over the Ozarks, where it will meander for the next few days before slightly weakening and shifting back over TX / the Southern Plains. This has helped suppress showers and storms, while also keeping the region generally drier and much warmer. While temperatures will be nearly 5 to 10 degrees above climatological normals for this time of year, the drier airmass will limit heat index values from reaching heat hazard criteria. Nevertheless, it will still be plenty hot, and caution will be warranted. As the aforementioned ridge begins to weaken and shift farther west over Texas, along with a trough moving westward off the Florida Gulf Coast, we will see a gradual return of moisture and isolated PoPs to the forecast. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 604 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026 Dry air and high pressure will keep skies for the next 24 hours. Winds will be light and variable. && .MARINE... Issued at 1146 PM CDT Thu Sep 17 2026 The pressure gradient over the region will continue to relax, with winds and seas following suit. Thanks to drier air and high pressure aloft, chances for showers and storms will be minimal over the waters through the next few days. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1146 PM CDT Thu Sep 17 2026 A dry airmass will move across the region through Saturday. MinRH values will fall into the 30s to mid 40s across most interior locations both Friday and Saturday afternoons. Moisture will increase once again Sunday into Monday. The latest drought map has a one class degradation across SWLA and parts of lower Acadiana. With little to no rainfall expected through the period, it will not be out of the realm of possibility to see another class degradation across our forecast area next week. && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && $$ PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...87 AVIATION...14