998 FXUS64 KLCH 200506 AFDLCHArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1206 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dry and warm conditions will continue through Sunday.
- Better rain chances return Sunday afternoon and through much of next week as increasing moisture and a series of weak disturbances move across the region.
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.SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday night) Issued at 1203 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
At the surface, high pressure extends from the east, and dry air aloft will keep our skies clear, limiting convection to isolated instances this weekend. Aloft, weak ridging has moved to the east with a fairly zonal pattern settling in place. With the high pressure to our east, our winds will be southerly, and returning moisture will lead to a steady rise in dew points. With more moisture, rain chances will increase, but only slightly as airmass showers and storms form in the afternoons.
Temperatures will remain summer-like with highs in the low to mid-90s. With dew points in the 70s, our heat index values will be in the upper 90s and will reach the triple digits to start the week.
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.LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 1203 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Our pattern will change as an upper-level low moves across the Great Plains. The main impacts from this system will be far to our north, but by midweek, a series of troughs will start to impact our area. Widespread rain and thunderstorms will bring welcome rain to the region. With the passage of this system, a conditional severe weather threat will be possible as CAPE values will be over 2000 J/kg when a front moves across the region. Looking at the long-range models, we will not have the right synoptic setup for severe weather, but there is plenty of time for conditions to change.
Temperatures will decrease as cloud coverage and rain will drop our highs into the upper 80s. Dew points will stay elevated as the pressure gradient force increases from the low to the north and high in the Gulf. For the second half of the week, dew points will feel tropical, with heat index values getting close to 100 each day.
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.AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1203 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
VFR conditions will continue through the TAF period. Overnight, winds will be calm. Patchy fog could be an issue near sunrise, but otherwise, no issues are expected.
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.MARINE... Issued at 1203 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Calm and benign conditions will continue for the rest of the weekend. As we enter the work week, conditions will begin to worsen as low pressure to the north increases our pressure gradient, leading to higher winds and waves. By Monday, winds will be gusting to 15 knots, and waves will build to 3-4 feet. Near storms, winds and waves will be higher.
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.FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1203 AM CDT Sat Sep 20 2025
The dry weather will continue through the weekend, with minimum RH values dropping down into the 30s. Calm winds and RH return near 100% will limit the fire danger across the region. KBDI values above 600 and abnormally dry conditions are additional concerns. By Monday, moisture return will bring minimum RH values back into the 40-50% range, with widespread rain expected midweek.
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.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 68 93 68 92 / 0 30 10 30 LCH 72 90 74 89 / 10 30 10 50 LFT 71 90 72 90 / 0 10 10 30 BPT 73 88 74 88 / 10 40 10 50
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.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. &&
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SHORT TERM...14 LONG TERM....14 AVIATION...14
NWS LCH Office Area Forecast Discussion